Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

3.3 Noise
The extent to which noise‐sensitive receptors in the project area are affected by traffic noise
depends on their respective proximity to the roadways and their individual sensitivity to traffic
noise. The primary roadway of concern for traffic noise is Larkin Road because Larkin Road
provides primary access to Clay Pit SVRA. The receptor nearest to the SVRA along Larkin Road is a
residence located approximately 115 feet west of Larkin Road, just south of Airport Park. This
residence is approximately 130 feet from the Larkin Road centerline; thus, existing traffic noise
levels at this residence are estimated to be approximately 60 dBA Ldn.
Future traffic levels were projected based on the existing number of vehicles entering the SVRA,
future population growth in Butte County, and improvements at the SVRA (e.g., new tracks, trails,
entrance facilities). Implementation of the General Plan, including construction and operation of
the headquarters facilities, is projected to result in 19,837 total vehicles accessing Clay Pit SVRA
annually (approximately 55 vehicles daily). As shown in Table 3.3‐4, future increases in traffic
noise levels would range from 0 dBA to 11 dBA Ldn. The greatest increase would occur along the
SVRA access road from Larkin Road and to the south. However, no noise‐sensitive receptors are
adjacent to this roadway segment. In areas where larger increases in traffic noise are accountable
to the project, low traffic volumes currently exist, so although increases may occur in these areas,
the overall noise level would remain well below 60 dBA Ldn following project implementation.
Where noise‐sensitive receptors are located on Larkin Road between Airport Park and Hamilton
Road, future increases in traffic would result in no increase in noise levels (Table 3.3‐4).
Construction activities are anticipated to result in a short‐term, temporary addition of
approximately 60 haul trucks per day for 42 days along Larkin Road and SR 162. The existing
peak‐hour traffic volume along Larkin Road between the SVRA access road and SR 162 is 426 trips
per day, and the existing peak‐hour traffic volume along SR 162 between SR 99 and Larkin Road is
280 trips per day. Additional traffic volumes generated by construction activities would be less
than 15% of peak hour traffic along Larkin Road and would be less than 22% of peak hour traffic
along SR 162. For construction activities to create a significant increase (+3 dBA) in traffic noise,
the number of trips would need to double (i.e., increase 100%). The increase in traffic from
construction activities would be substantially less than 100%.
Because implementing the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan, including constructing and operating the
headquarters facilities, would not increase off‐site traffic noise levels at noise‐sensitive receptors,
and because construction activities would increase off‐site traffic noise levels by an insubstantial
amount (less than 3 dBA), off‐site noise levels related to traffic would be a less­than­significant
impact.
Mitigation Measures: No mitigation is required.
IMPACT
3.3-3
Exposure of Sensitive Receptors to Groundborne Noise and Vibration Levels from SVRA
Operations
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 3.3-19 February 2012