Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESrural areas away from major highways to as high as 50 to 75 dBA in more urban areas (near Gorst) near SR 3(Caltrans 2009; FTA 2006).Gorst UGANoise sensitive receivers within the UGA primarily include single-family residences along SR 3, SR 6, West BelfairValley Road, West Sam Christopherson Avenue, and other local roads, and the Family Worship Center on WestFrontage Road on the south side of SR 6. Noise sensitive receivers within the UGA are likely affected the most byvehicular traffic on SR 3 and SR 6, West Belfair Valley Road, and on local roads. Mechanical equipment and truckloading and unloading operations associated with commercial and industrial operations along SR 3 and SR 6,operations associated with the quarry north of Sherman Heights Road, also likely contribute to the overall noiseenvironment within the UGA. Other intermittent noise sources likely include periodic aircraft overflights and railnoise associated railroad connecting the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) with the Bangor submarine facilityand the Port of Shelton along the shoreline of Sinclair Inlet. Although, no sound-level measurements were taken aspart of this evaluation, typical ambient, outdoor, daytime sound levels are expected to be between 60 and 75 dBAwithin the UGA, depending on distance from the roadway (Caltrans 2009; FTA 2006).ImpactsThis section describes the potential changes to the existing ambient noise environment from implementation ofthe project alternatives.IMPACTS COMMON TO ALL ALTERNATIVESWatershedConstruction NoiseUnder all alternatives, development would occur throughout the Gorst Creek watershed to varying degrees asallowed by zoning and applicable regulations. As discussed in Section 2.5 Study Alternatives: Future Growth, it isassumed that most development outside of the UGA would be associated with residential dwellings, with less than500 new dwellings constructed over the next 20-30 years.Development in the watershed, outside of the Gorst UGA, may involve construction activity near existingresidences, temporarily increasing noise levels. Sounds originating from temporary construction sites as a result ofconstruction activity are exempt from daytime noise limits in the Kitsap County noise ordinance (KCC 10.28.070).Construction noise levels immediately adjacent to construction sites could be up to twice as loud as existingambient noise levels and could cause annoyance or interfere with speech communication at adjacent outdoorlocations. Construction noise levels could be discernible up to several hundred feet away from the constructionsite. Nighttime construction activity, if required, is not exempt from the Kitsap County's noise ordinance, andwould be required to comply with the nighttime limits specified in the Kitsap County's noise ordinance.Compliance with the Kitsap County's nighttime noise ordinance limits would minimize any impacts from nighttimeconstruction activity.Traffic NoiseDevelopment in the watershed would result in increases in future traffic volumes on highways and local roadsoutside of the UGA, resulting in higher ambient noise levels from moving and idling vehicles. Potential noiseimpacts on sensitive receivers would vary with distance from the roadway.Any roadway improvements that would occur in the watershed that would use state or federal funding would besubject to State and/or Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) policies and procedures for evaluating trafficnoise impacts and noise abatement. In cases where no state or federal funding is involved, the WSDOT and FHWAprotocols are not applicable.Draft | June 2013 3-74