T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationNoise Measurements FindingsA short-term noise monitoring program was conducted in August 2005 to provide additional information on thebaseline noise environment in areas surrounding the Airport that could experience changes in noise exposure asa result of the potential changes in aircraft altitudes resulting from the Project. Noise measurements wereconducted at 11 sites from August 8, 2005 through August 15, 2005. Four of the short-term measurement siteswere primary sites, which included measurements for a period of 8 days, while seven were secondary sites, atwhich measurements typically were conducted for a period of 24 consecutive hours. Measurements for anadditional secondary site (site S6, located at 148 Grace Street in Cranston) were conducted August 24th andAugust 25th, 2005 and again on May 10th and May 11th, 2006 for a total of 12 measurement sites. Refer toFigure 4-2 for the short-term noise measurement locations. 161 ), 162These noise measurements primarily focused on collecting DNL, hourly noise levels (L eqand single eventnoise levels (SEL/L max) from aircraft operations. Six monitors were used for the noise measurements: fourremained in a fixed location for the full duration of the measurement period while two were used on arotational basis, remaining at each of the secondary sites for a 24-hour period. The primary sites were typicallylocated off the approach ends of the runways. While some of the secondary sites also were located off theapproach ends of the runways, many were located outside the immediate Airport area. Table 4-4 summarizesthe measured DNL and L maxat short-term primary and secondary monitoring sites.Single-Event Noise Measurement FindingsApproximately 4,000 single events were captured by the noise monitors. Out of these single events, 1,789 noiseevents could be associated with an aircraft flyover using the flight track radar data, and subsequently matched to amodeled SEL. The remaining single events were not matched to a modeled SEL if the noise event was due tonon-aircraft activity, or the noise event was due to an unidentified aircraft, or an observed (measured) aircraftoperation did not have sufficient flight track information for that operation to be modeled within INM.4.2.2.2 Cargo-Related Ground NoiseUnder Baseline Conditions, noise from cargo activities does not result in significant impacts to nearbyneighborhoods or other noise-sensitive receptors. A discussion of the cumulative noise exposure (DNL) analysisand single-event (L max) analysis are provided in Chapter 5, Environmental Consequences.161 The public were invited to participate in determining the locations for the noise measurement locations. This meeting was held July 11, 2005 from 6:30 PMto 8:30 PM at the Warwick Public Library.162 See Appendix F, Noise, Section F.1.2.1.5 Equivalent Sound Level, Leq for an explanation of L eq.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-10 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc