Chapter 3. Environmental Impact Analysis Noise and Vibration

3.9 Noise and Vibration 3.9.1 Introduction This section describes the potential noise and vibration impacts of the Proposed Project. It includes a discussion of existing regulatory requirements, the existing noise setting within the project area, and noise and vibration impacts that would result from implementation of the Proposed Project. Supporting technical information and analyses are hereby incorporated by reference and included as Appendix I [Noise Modeling Calculations] of this Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

As noted in the analysis below, impacts related to noise and vibration during construction activities would be significant and unavoidable, despite the application of mitigation measures.

During operation, impacts would also be significant. However, with incorporation of required mitigation measures, noise impacts during operation would result in less than significant impacts.

3.9.1.1 Noise Fundamentals Noise is commonly defined as unwanted sound. Sound can be described as the mechanical energy of a vibrating object transmitted by pressure waves through a liquid or gaseous medium (e.g., air) to a hearing organ, such as a human ear. Noise is often defined as sound that is objectionable because it is disturbing or annoying.

In the science of acoustics, the fundamental model consists of a sound (or noise) source, a receptor, and the propagation path between the two. The loudness of the noise source and the obstructions or atmospheric factors, which affect the propagation path to the receptor, determine the sound level and the characteristics of the noise perceived by the receptor.

Continuous sound can be described by frequency (pitch) and amplitude (loudness). A low-frequency sound is perceived as low in pitch; a high-frequency sound is perceived as high-pitched. Frequency is expressed in terms of cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz) (e.g., a frequency of 250 cycles per second is referred to as 250 Hz). High frequencies are sometimes more conveniently expressed in kilohertz (kHz), or thousands of Hz. The audible frequency range for humans is generally between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Very-low-frequency airborne sound of sufficient amplitude may be felt before it can be heard, and can be confused with ground-borne vibration.

The amplitude of pressure waves generated by a sound source determines the loudness of that source. As discussed in further detail below, the sound pressure level (also referred to simply as the sound level) is typically described in terms of decibels.

Decibels The magnitude of a sound is typically described in terms of sound pressure level (SPL), which refers to the root-mean-square pressure of a sound wave and is measured in units called micropascals (µPa). One μPa is approximately one hundred-billionth (0.00000000001) of normal atmospheric pressure. Sound pressure amplitudes for different kinds of noise environments can range from less than 100 to over 100,000,000 μPa. Because of this large range of values, sound is rarely expressed in terms of μPa. Instead, a logarithmic scale is used to describe the sound pressure level in terms of

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decibels, abbreviated dB. The decibel is a logarithmic unit that describes the ratio of the actual sound pressure to a reference pressure (20 µPa is the standard reference pressure level for acoustical measurements in air). Specifically, a sound pressure level, in decibels, is calculated as follows:

⎛ X ⎞ SPL 20 log = 10 ⎜ ⎟ ⎝ 20µPa ⎠ where X is the actual sound pressure and 20 µPa is the reference pressure. The threshold of hearing for young people is about 0 dB, which corresponds to 20 μPa.

Decibel Addition Because decibels are logarithmic units, sound pressure levels cannot be added or subtracted through ordinary arithmetic. On the dB scale, a doubling of sound energy corresponds to a 3-dB increase. In other words, when two identical sources are each producing the same sound level, their combined sound level would be 3 dB higher than one source under the same conditions. For example, if one bulldozer produces a sound pressure level of 80 A-weighted decibels (dBA), two bulldozers would not produce 160 dBA; rather, they would combine to produce 83 dBA. The cumulative sound level of any number of sources, such as excavators, can be determined using decibel addition.

A-Weighting The dB scale alone does not adequately characterize how humans perceive noise. The dominant frequencies of a sound have a substantial effect on the human response to that sound. Although the intensity (energy per unit area) of the sound is a purely physical quantity, the loudness or human response is determined by characteristics of the human ear.

Human hearing is limited in the range of audible frequencies as well as in the way it perceives the sound pressure level in that range. In general, people are most sensitive to the frequency range of 1,000 to 8,000 Hz and perceive sounds within that range better than sounds of the same amplitude in higher or lower frequencies. To approximate the response of the human ear, sound levels of individual frequency bands are weighted (i.e., adjusted), depending on human sensitivity to those frequencies. The resulting sound pressure level is expressed in A-weighted decibels or dBA.

The A-weighting scale approximates the frequency response of the average young ear when listening to most ordinary sounds. When people make judgments regarding the relative loudness or annoyance of a sound, their judgments correlate well with the A-weighted sound levels of those sounds. Table 3.9-1 describes typical A-weighted sound levels for various noise sources.

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Table 3.9-1. Typical A-Weighted Sound Levels

Common Outdoor Noise Source Sound Level (dBA) Common Indoor Noise Source — 110 — Rock band Jet flying at 1,000 feet — 100 — Gas lawn mower at 3 feet — 90 — Diesel truck at 50 feet at 50 mph Food blender at 3 feet — 80 — Garbage disposal at 3 feet Noisy urban area, daytime Gas lawn mower at 100 feet — 70 — Vacuum cleaner at 10 feet Commercial area Normal speech at 3 feet Heavy traffic at 300 feet — 60 — Large business office Quiet urban daytime — 50 — Dishwasher in next room

Quiet urban nighttime — 40 — Theater, large conference room (background) Quiet suburban nighttime — 30 — Library Quiet rural nighttime Bedroom at night — 20 — Broadcast/recording studio — 10 — Lowest threshold of human hearing — 0 — Lowest threshold of human hearing Source: California Department of Transportation, 2013a.

Noise Descriptors Because sound levels can vary markedly over a short period of time, a method for describing either the average character of the sound or the statistical behavior of the variations is utilized. Most commonly, environmental sounds are described in terms of the average level, or equivalent sound level (abbreviated Leq), that describes the average acoustical energy content of noise for an identified period of time. Thus, the Leq of a time-varying noise and that of a steady noise are the same if they deliver the same acoustical energy over the duration of the exposure. A common averaging period is hourly, but Leq can describe any series of noise events of arbitrary duration. The scientific instrument used to measure noise is the sound level meter. Sound level meters can accurately measure environmental noise levels to within approximately plus or minus 1 dBA.

Additional commonly used noise metrics are described in Table 3.9-2 below, along with a summary of definitions of technical acoustical terms used in this section. Two of the metrics, Day/Night Noise Level (Ldn) and Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL), describe 24-hour average noise levels. When measured in typical outdoor environments, CNEL and Ldn are normally within 1 dBA of each other.

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Table 3.9-2. Definitions of Acoustical Terms

Term Definition Decibel (dB) A unit describing the amplitude of sound equal to 20 times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure. The reference pressure for air is 20 μPa. Sound Pressure Level Sound pressure is the sound force per unit area, usually expressed in μPa (or micronewtons per square meter), where 1 pascal is the pressure resulting from a force of 1 newton exerted over an area of 1 square meter. The sound pressure level is expressed in decibels as 20 times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio between the pressures exerted by the sound to a reference sound pressure (e.g., 20 μPa in air). Sound pressure level is the quantity that is measured directly by a sound level meter. Frequency (Hz) The number of complete pressure fluctuations per second above and below atmospheric pressure. Normal human hearing is between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Infrasonic sounds are below 20 Hz, and ultrasonic sounds are above 20,000 Hz. A-Weighted Sound The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using Level (dBA) the A weighting filter network. The A-weighting filter de-emphasizes the very low- and very high-frequency components of the sound in a manner similar to the frequency response of the human ear and correlates well with subjective reactions to noise. Equivalent Sound The average A-weighted noise level during the measurement period. The hourly Level (Leq) Leq used for this report is denoted as dBA Leq(h). Community Noise The average A-weighted noise level during a 24-hour day, which is obtained by Equivalent Level adding 5 dB to sound levels in the evening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and 10 dB to (CNEL) sound levels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Day/Night The average A-weighted noise level during a 24-hour day, which is obtained by Noise Level (Ldn) adding 10 dB to sound levels measured at night between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Percentile-Exceeded The A-weighted noise level that is exceeded XX% of the time during the Sound Level (LXX) measurement period. E.g., L25 is the sound level exceeded 25% of the time, and L50 is the sound level exceeded 50% of the time. Maximum Sound Level The maximum sound level measured during the measurement period. (Lmax) Minimum Sound Level The minimum sound level measured during the measurement period. (Lmin) Ambient Noise Level The composite of noise from all sources near and far. The normal or existing level of environmental noise at a given location. Source: ICF International, 2014.

Human Response to Noise Studies have shown that under controlled conditions in an acoustics laboratory, a healthy human ear is able to discern changes in sound levels of 1 dBA. In the normal environment, the healthy human ear can detect changes of about 2 dBA; however, it is widely accepted that changes of 3 dBA in the normal environment are considered just noticeable to most people. A change of 5 dBA is readily perceptible, and a change of 10 dBA is perceived as being twice as loud. Accordingly, a doubling of sound energy (e.g., doubling the volume of traffic on a highway) resulting in a 3-dB increase in sound would generally be barely detectable.

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Sound Propagation When sound propagates over a distance, it changes in both level and frequency content. The manner in which noise is reduced with distance depends on the following important factors.

l Geometric Spreading. Sound from a single source (i.e., a “point” source) radiates uniformly outward as it travels away from the source in a spherical pattern. The sound level attenuates (or drops off) at a rate of 6 dBA for each doubling of distance. Highway noise is not a single stationary point source of sound. The movement of vehicles on a highway makes the source of the sound appear to emanate from a line (i.e., a “line” source) rather than from a point. This results in cylindrical spreading rather than the spherical spreading resulting from a point source. The change in sound level (i.e., attenuation or decrease) from a line source is 3 dBA per doubling of distance.

l Ground Absorption. Usually the noise path between the source and the observer is very close to the ground. The excess noise attenuation from ground absorption occurs due to acoustic energy losses on sound wave reflection. Traditionally, the excess attenuation has also been expressed in terms of attenuation per doubling of distance. This approximation is done for simplification only; for distances of less than 200 feet, prediction results based on this scheme are sufficiently accurate. For acoustically “hard” sites (i.e., sites with a reflective surface, such as a parking lot or a smooth body of water, between the source and the receptor), no excess ground attenuation is assumed because the sound wave is reflected without energy losses. For acoustically absorptive or “soft” sites (i.e., sites with an absorptive ground surface, such as soft dirt, grass, or scattered bushes and trees), an excess ground attenuation value of 1.5 dBA per doubling of distance is normally assumed. When added to the geometric spreading, the excess ground attenuation results in an overall drop-off rate of 4.5 dBA per doubling of distance for a line source and 7.5 dBA per doubling of distance for a point source.

l Atmospheric Effects. Research by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and others has shown that atmospheric conditions can have a major effect on noise levels. Wind has been shown to be the single most important meteorological factor within approximately 500 feet, whereas vertical air temperature gradients are more important over longer distances. Other factors, such as air temperature, humidity, and turbulence, also have major effects. Receptors downwind from a source can be exposed to increased noise levels relative to calm conditions, whereas receptors upwind can have lower noise levels. Increased sound levels can also occur because of temperature inversion conditions (i.e., increasing temperature with elevation, with cooler air near the surface, where the sound source tends to be and the warmer air above acts as a cap, causing a reflection of ground level–generated sound).

l Shielding by Natural or Human-Made Features. A large object or barrier in the path between a noise source and a receptor can substantially attenuate noise levels at the receptor. The amount of attenuation provided by this shielding depends on the size of the object, proximity to the noise source and receptor, surface weight, solidity, and the frequency content of the noise source. Natural terrain features (such as hills and dense woods) and human-made features (such as buildings and walls) can substantially reduce noise levels. Walls are often constructed between a source and a receptor with the specific purpose of reducing noise. A barrier that breaks the line of sight between a source and a receptor will typically result in at least 5 dB of noise reduction. A higher barrier may provide as much as 20 dB of noise reduction.

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3.9.1.2 Ground-borne Vibration Fundamentals Ground-borne vibration is an oscillatory motion of the soil with respect to the equilibrium position and can be quantified in terms of velocity or acceleration. The velocity describes the instantaneous speed of the motion and acceleration is the instantaneous rate of change of the speed. Each of these measures can be further described in terms of frequency and amplitude. Typical outdoor sources of perceptible ground-borne vibration are heavy construction equipment (such as blasting and pile driving), railroad operations, and heavy trucks on rough roads. If a roadway is smooth, the ground- borne vibration from traffic is rarely perceptible. Ground-borne vibration can be a serious concern for neighbors of nearby sources, causing buildings to shake and rumbling sounds to be heard. Most perceptible indoor vibration is caused by sources within buildings, such as the operation of mechanical equipment, movement of people, or the slamming of doors.

Ground-borne vibration can be described in terms of peak particle velocity (PPV). PPV is defined as the maximum instantaneous positive or negative peak amplitude of the vibration velocity. The unit of measurement for PPV is inches per second (in/s). For transient vibration sources (single isolated vibration events such as blasting), the human response to vibration varies from barely perceptible at a PPV of 0.04 in/s, to distinctly perceptible at a PPV of 0.25 in/s, and severe at a PPV of 2.0 in/s. For continuous or frequent intermittent vibration sources (such as impact pile driving or vibratory compaction equipment), the human response to vibration varies from barely perceptible at a PPV of 0.01 in/s, to distinctly perceptible at a PPV of 0.04 in/s, and severe at a PPV of 0.4 in/s (California Department of Transportation 2013b). If a person is engaged in any type of physical activity, vibration tolerance increases considerably. 3.9.2 Regulatory Setting 3.9.2.1 State Regulations California requires each local government entity to perform noise studies and implement a noise element as part of its general plan. The purpose of the noise element is to limit the exposure of the community to excessive noise levels; the noise element must be used to guide decisions concerning land use. The state provides guidelines for evaluating the compatibility of various land uses as a function of community noise exposure.

3.9.2.2 Local

L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide The L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (City of Los Angeles 2006) defines noise-sensitive land uses as residences, transient lodgings, schools, day-care facilities, libraries, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, auditoriums, concert halls, amphitheaters, playgrounds, and parks, and provides noise/land use compatibility guidelines, as summarized in Table 3.9-3.

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Table 3.9-3. Land Use Noise Compatibility Guidelines

Community Noise Exposure CNEL, dB Normally Conditionally Normally Clearly Land Use Acceptable Acceptable Unacceptable Unacceptable Single-Family, Duplex, Mobile 50–60 55–70 70–75 above 70 Homes Multifamily Homes 50–65 60–70 70–75 above 70 Schools, Libraries, Churches, 50–70 60–70 70–80 above 80 Hospitals, Nursing Homes Transient Lodging – Motels, 50–65 60–70 70–80 above 80 Hotels Auditoriums, Concert Halls, — 50–70 — above 65 Amphitheaters Sports Arena, Outdoor — 50–75 — above 70 Spectator Sports Playgrounds, Neighborhoods 50–70 — 67–75 above 72 Parks Golf Courses, Riding Stables, 50–75 — 70–80 above 80 Water, Recreation, Cemeteries Normally Acceptable: Specified land use is satisfactory, based on the assumption that any buildings involved are of normal conventional construction and without any special noise insulation requirements. Conditionally Acceptable: New construction or development should be undertaken only after a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements is made and needed noise insulation features included in the design. Conventional construction, but with closed windows and fresh air supply systems or air-conditioning, will normally suffice. Normally Unacceptable: New construction or development generally should be discouraged. If new construction or development does proceed, a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements must be made and needed noise insulation features included in the design. Clearly Unacceptable: New construction or development generally should not be undertaken. Source: City of Los Angeles, 2006.

City of Los Angeles Municipal Code

Construction Noise Section 41.40(a) of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code prohibits the use, operation, repair, or servicing of construction equipment, as well as job-site delivery of construction materials, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. where such activities would disturb “persons occupying sleeping quarters in any dwelling hotel or apartment or other place of residence.” Construction noise emanating from property zoned for manufacturing or industrial uses is exempted from the Section 41.40(a) standards. In addition, Section 41.40(c) prohibits construction, grading, and related job-site deliveries on or within 500 feet of land developed with residential structures before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on any Saturday or national holiday or at any time on Sunday.

Section 112.05 of the municipal code places limits on the maximum noise levels (75 dBA at a distance of 50 feet for typical construction equipment) that may be produced by powered equipment or tools in, or within 500 feet of, any residential zone between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The proscribed limits shall not apply where compliance is technically infeasible but the

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burden of proving that compliance is technically infeasible is on the person or persons charged with a violation of the standard. Technical infeasibility shall mean that the noise limit cannot be complied with despite the use of mufflers, shields, sound barriers, and/or other noise reduction devices or techniques during the operation of the equipment.

Operational Noise Chapter XI, Noise Regulation, of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code regulates noise from non- transportation noise sources such as commercial or industrial operations, mechanical equipment, or residential activities. It is noted that while these regulations do not apply to vehicles operating on public rights-of-way, they do apply to noise generated by vehicles on private property—such as truck operations at commercial or industrial facilities. The exact noise standards vary depending on the type of noise source, but the allowable noise levels are generally determined relative to the existing ambient noise levels at the affected location. Section 111.01(a) defines the ambient noise as “the composite of noise from all sources near and far in a given environment, exclusive of occasional and transient intrusive noise sources and of the particular noise source or sources to be measured. Ambient noise shall be averaged over a period of at least 15 minutes…” Section 111.03 provides minimum ambient noise levels for various land uses, as described in Table 3.9-4, below. In the event that the actual measured ambient level at the subject location is lower than that provided in the table, the level in the table shall be assumed.

Table 3.9-4. City of Los Angeles Assumed Minimum Ambient Noise Levels

Assumed Minimum Ambient Noise (Leq), dBA Daytime Nighttime Zone (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) A1, A2, RA, RE, RS, RD, RW1, RW2, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 50 40 P, PB, CR, C1, C1.5, C2, C4, C5, and CM 60 55 M1, MR1, and MR2 60 55 M2 and M3 65 65 Source: City of Los Angeles, 2013.

At the boundary line between two zones, the allowable noise level of the quieter zone shall be used. The allowable noise levels are then adjusted if certain conditions apply to the alleged offensive noise, as follows.

l For steady tone noise with an audible fundamental frequency or overtones (except for noise emanating from any electrical transformer or gas metering and pressure control equipment existing and installed prior to September 8, 1986) – reduce allowable noise level by 5 dBA.

l For repeated impulsive noise – reduce allowable noise level by 5 dBA.

l For noise occurring less than 15 minutes in any period of 60 consecutive minutes between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. – increase allowable noise level by 5 dBA.

The City’s noise ordinance is not explicit in defining the length of time over which an average noise level should be assessed. However, based on the noted reference to “60 consecutive minutes,” above, it is inferred that the 1-hour Leq metric should be used.

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Section 112.02 of Chapter XI addresses noise from air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, pumping, and filtering equipment. It states that such equipment may not generate noise that would exceed the ambient noise level at any adjacent property by more than 5 dBA.

Section 114.02 of Chapter XI addresses noise from motor driven vehicles (it is noted that the code only addresses vehicles on private property and does not address vehicles while operated on public highways). It states that such vehicles may not generate noise that would exceed the ambient noise level at any occupied residential property by more than 5 dBA.

City of Los Angeles Noise Element The Noise Element of the City’s General Plan defines the following land uses to be noise-sensitive: single- and multi-family dwellings, long-term care facilities (including convalescent and retirement facilities), dormitories, motels, hotels, transient lodgings and other residential uses; houses of worship; hospitals; libraries; schools; auditoriums; concert halls; outdoor theaters; nature and wildlife preserves; and parks.

The Noise Element contains the following polices that are relevant to the Proposed Project.

Policy 5 – Continue to enforce, as applicable, City, state and federal regulations intended to abate or eliminate disturbances of the peace and other intrusive noise.

Policy 6 – When processing building permits, continue to require appropriate project design and/or insulation measures, in accordance with the California Noise Insulation Standards (Building Code Title 24, Section 3501 et seq.), or any amendments thereto or subsequent related regulations, so as to assure that interior noise levels will not exceed the minimum ambient noise levels, as set forth in the City’s noise ordinance ([Los Angeles Municipal Code] Section 111 et seq., and any other insulation related code standards or requirements) for a particular zone or noise-sensitive use, as defined by the California Noise Insulation Standards.

Policy 11 – For a proposed development project that is deemed to have a potentially significant noise impact on noise-sensitive uses, as defined by this chapter, require mitigation measures, as appropriate, in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act and City procedures.

Policy 12 – When issuing discretionary permits for a proposed noise-sensitive use (as defined by this chapter) or a subdivision of four or more detached single-family units and which use is determined to be potentially significantly impacted by existing or proposed noise sources, require mitigation measures, as appropriate, in accordance with procedures set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act. 3.9.3 Environmental Setting 3.9.3.1 Existing Noise Environment The primary existing noise sources in the project area are traffic on local streets, occasional aircraft overflights, and general neighborhood activities such as landscaping and home improvements. Noise from the existing Venice Pumping Plant (VPP) is also audible at the closest homes to that facility, which are approximately 50 to 80 feet to the west and south, on Hurricane Street and Canal Court.

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The closest noise-sensitive receptors to the Project Site are residences (multi- and single-family) within approximately 15 feet of the Site. To the northwest, the Project Site is bounded by a neighboring residence. To the northeast, the site is bounded by a pedestrian/bike path and the Grand Canal, beyond which are existing homes along the east bank of the canal. To the southeast, the site is bounded by Hurricane Street, beyond which is the existing VPP; farther to the southeast are the Ballona Lagoon and more residences. To the southwest, the Project Site is bounded by Canal Court, beyond which are residences. Figure 2-2 (Chapter 2, Project Description) shows the Project Site and surrounding area.

Noise Monitoring In order to determine the existing noise environment, measurements were obtained at five locations in the vicinity of the Project Site, as shown in Figure 3.9-1. One long-term (approximately 4 days) noise measurement (LT-1) was obtained at the northwest fence line of the Project Site. Short-term (ST) noise measurements (approximately 15 to 20 minutes) were obtained at four locations in the surrounding community. ST-1 was located approximately 70 feet northeast of the Project Site, across the Grand Canal; ST-2 was located approximately 20 feet southwest of the Project Site, across Canal Street; ST-3 was located approximately 100 feet south of the Project Site, across the intersection of Canal Street and Hurricane Street; and ST-4 was located approximately 400 feet southeast of the Project Site, across the Ballona Lagoon. The summary of the measurement results are provided in Tables 3.9-5 and 3.9-6. The long-term measurement was obtained between approximately 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, and 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday August 25, 2015. Short- term measurements were gathered on Thursday, August 20, and Tuesday August 25, 2015.

In addition to the noise measurements obtained directly for this noise analysis, ambient noise data were also supplied by the Proposed Project’s design engineer (Arcadis 2015); the memo discussing these noise measurements is included in Appendix I. These data were gathered on Thursday, April 23, 2015, at locations very close to four of the measurement locations shown in Figure 3.9-1 and have also been added to Tables 3.9-5 and 3.9-6. The 24-hour CNEL noise levels for the locations monitored ranged from approximately 53 to 57 CNEL; daytime hourly average (one hour Leq) noise levels ranged from approximately 45 to 66 dBA Leq according to the long-term measurements, evening average noise levels ranged from approximately 47 to 52 dBA Leq; and nighttime hourly average noise levels ranged from approximately 40 to 52 dBA Leq. The Leq values recorded during the short-term measurements ranged from approximately 50 to 53 dBA Leq for ST-1, 48 to 50 dBA Leq for ST-2, and 49 to 50 dBA Leq for ST-3. The average noise level for ST-4 was approximately 51 dBA Leq.

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Figure 3.9-1 Noise Monitoring Locations Venice Auxiliary Pumping Plant Project

Chapter 3. Environmental Impact Analysis Noise and Vibration

Table 3.9-5. Summary of Long-Term Noise Measurements

Range of Hourly Average Levels, Range of Hourly Range of Hourly Location #, Leq (1h), dBA Minimum Levels, Maximum Levels, Description Date CNEL Time Period (average) Lmin, dBA Lmax, dBA LT-1, Thursday 56.5a Daytime (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.) 50.4–58.7 (54.3) 43.8–46.3 65.3–75.3 Adjacent to 8/20/15 Evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 49.2–52.1 (50.9) 43.8–45.0 64.4–75.0 northwest fence line of Nighttime (7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) 49.5–50.8 (50.2) 43.8–44.7 62.1–64.3 Project Site, Friday 55.8 Daytime (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) 49.1–65.6 (56.3) 41.6–44.8 62.6–81.6 near north 8/21/15 Evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 48.0–50.5 (49.1) 43.2–44.2 59.7–65.1 corner of Nighttime (12 a.m. to 7 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) 40.5–48.4 (45.6) 39.0–44.4 50.0–63.9 site. Saturday 54.3 Daytime (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) 46.4–52.7 (50.7) 38.9–45.7 61.1–74.6 8/22/15 Evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 47.6–49.2 (48.6) 44.0–45.0 63.0–63.9 Nighttime (12 a.m. to 7 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) 40.5–52.4 (46.8) 37.9–42.9 51.8–77.5 Sunday 52.8 Daytime (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) 45.4–53.8 (50.2) 39.7–45.0 56.1–76.6 8/23/15 Evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 46.7–50.0 (48.4) 42.9–43.6 56.5–67.6 Nighttime (12 a.m. to 7 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) 40.5–46.7 (44.8) 38.9–42.4 48.3–65.6 Monday 53.4 Daytime (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) 47.8–54.4 (51.4) 42.4–45.1 60.0–80.1 8/24/15 Evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 46.9–49.0 (47.8) 43.0–43.4 60.1–64.2 Nighttime (12 a.m. to 7 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.) 40.2–47.0 (45.2) 38.6–42.1 51.0–61.3 Thursday N/A Daytime (3:57 p.m. to 4:39 p.m.) 48.6 42.7 61.5 4/23/15b Notes: a CNEL estimated by comparing available measured data from 8/20/15 with corresponding data and CNEL for days on which full 24-hour measurements were obtained (i.e., 8/21 through 8/24, 2015) b Supplemental data calculated from raw data included in the Arcadis memo (Arcadis 2015) (see Appendix I of this EIR). Sources: ICF International, 2015; Arcadis, 2015.

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Table 3.9-6. Summary of Short-Term Noise Measurements

Estimated Measured Noise Levels, dBA Location #, Description (Date, Time) CNELa Date, Time Leq Lmin Lmax ST-1, northeast of Project Site, across Grand 57 8/20/15, 51.3 45.7 59.4 Canal, adjacent to 3815 Via Dolce 2:12 p.m.–2:28 p.m. 8/25/15, 49.9 43.4 59.0 1:00 p.m.–1:19 p.m. 4/23/2015, 52.7 45.0 61.7 4:50 p.m.–5:20 p.m. b Average 51.4 -- -- ST-2, southwest of Project Site, across Canal 56 8/20/15, 49.8 46.4 60.4 Court, in front of 129 Hurricane Street 1:24 p.m.–1:44 p.m. 8/25/15, 50.4 46.8 58.3 2:24 p.m.–2:45 p.m. 4/23/2015, 47.8 41.8 60.3 4:43 p.m.–5:13 p.m. b Average 49.5 -- -- ST-3, southwest of Project Site on Hurricane 56 8/20/15, 49.9 44.8 58.8 Street, in front of 120 Hurricane Street 1:24 p.m.–1:42 p.m. 8/25/15, 48.7 42.8 61.1 1:45 p.m.–2:19 p.m. 4/23/2015, 49.9 44.7 63.4 4:11 p.m.–4:41 p.m. b Average 49.5 -- -- ST-4, southeast of Project Site, across Ballona 57 8/20/15, 50.7 46.2 57.8 Lagoon, on trail adjacent to 107 Roma Court 2:08 p.m.–2:24 p.m. Average 50.7 -- -- Notes: a CNEL estimated by comparing available measured data from 8/20/15 with corresponding data and CNEL for days on which full 24-hour measurements were obtained (i.e., 8/21 through 8/24, 2015) b Supplemental data calculated from raw data included in the Arcadis memo (Arcadis 2015) (see Appendix I of this EIR). Sources: ICF International, 2015; Arcadis, 2015.

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3.9.4 Environmental Impact Analysis This section describes the methodology, evaluation, and impacts for temporary construction and permanent operational noise and vibration. This discussion is intended to assist in the evaluation and conclusions of the impact analysis provided below and in the formation of required mitigation measures.

3.9.4.1 Methodology Noise Measurements The long-term noise measurement of existing ambient noise levels was obtained using a Rion NL-21 Type 2 sound level meter. The short-term noise measurements of existing ambient noise levels and VPP equipment noise levels were obtained using Larson Davis 831 and LxT Type 1 sound level meters. The sound level meters were field calibrated for accuracy using a Larson Davis CAL200 acoustical calibrator.

Two measurements were obtained of equipment (pumps and motors) noise levels inside the existing VPP building, which is located southeast of the Project Site. The first measurement was taken in the VPP motor room, close to two motors that were running simultaneously. The microphone was located approximately 8 feet from the center axis of the first motor and 10.5 feet from the center axis of the second motor. At this location, the measured noise level (Leq) was 83.6 dBA; this noise level included both direct noise from each motor and reverberant noise caused by sound reflected within the concrete-walled room.

The second measurement was taken in the VPP pump room, close to two pumps that were running simultaneously. The microphone was located approximately 11 feet from the center axis of the first motor and 12 feet from the center axis of the second motor. At this location the measured noise level (Leq) was 83.8 dBA; this noise level included both direct noise from each pump and reverberant noise caused by sound reflected within the concrete-walled room.

Construction Noise and Vibration Potential noise and vibration impacts associated with project construction activities were evaluated based on the Proposed Project’s construction equipment schedule and phasing information.

Noise Construction-related traffic noise was analyzed using calculations based on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Noise Model (TNM) Version 2.5 Look-Up Tables (FHWA 2004). The inputs used in the traffic noise modeling included the estimated maximum daily truck trips specified in the Truck Traffic Analysis Data memo prepared for the project (Arcadis 2016a) and an assumed speed of 25 miles per hour on the local streets closest to the Project Site.

Construction-related noise was analyzed using data and modeling methodologies from FHWA’s Roadway Construction Noise Model (RCNM) (FHWA 2006, 2008), which predicts average noise levels at nearby receptors by analyzing the type of equipment, the distance from source to receptor, usage factor, and the presence or absence of intervening shielding between source and receptor. This methodology calculates the composite average noise levels for multiple equipment items

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scheduled during each construction phase. The source-to-receptor distances used in the analyses were the acoustical average distances between the relevant construction area and each receptor. The acoustical average distance is used to represent noise sources that are mobile or distributed over an area (such as the Project Site); it is calculated by multiplying the shortest distance between the receiver and the noise source area by the farthest distance and then taking the square root of the product. Noise levels for each phase of construction were analyzed at five receptors in the vicinity of the Project Site. These receptors are illustrated in Figure 3.9-2, and represent the closest noise- sensitive receptors (i.e., homes) in each direction from the Project Site. Table 3.9-7 provides the noise levels of construction equipment expected to be used by the Proposed Project; the noise levels are provided for a reference distance of 50 feet. Consistent with the RCNM methodology, it was assumed that construction noise levels would be reduced at a rate of 6 dB per doubling of distance from the source.

Table 3.9-7. Construction Equipment Noise Levels

Maximum Noise Level Average Noise Level a a, b Equipment Item (Lmax) at 50 feet, dBA Usage Factor (Leq) at 50 feet, dBA Excavator 80.7 0.4 77 Backhoe 77.6 0.4 74 Grader 85 0.4 81 Jack Hammer 88.9 0.2 82 Crane 80.6 0.16 73 Compactor 83.2 0.2 76 Pile Driver 101.3 0.2 94 Air Compressor 77.7 0.4 74 Concrete Trucks 81.4 0.2 74 Notes: a Obtained or estimated from FHWA 2006, 2008 (RCNM). b Usage Factor is the fraction of time the equipment is operating in its noisiest mode while in use. Leq is estimated from Lmax using the following equation: Leq = Lmax + 10 × log10 (Usage Factor) Source: ICF, 2015

Vibration Construction-related vibration was analyzed using data and modeling methodologies provided by Caltrans’ Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual (California Department of Transportation 2013b). This guidance manual provides typical vibration source levels for various types of construction equipment, as well as methods for estimating the propagation of ground-borne vibration over distance. Because potential vibration impacts are assessed based on peak levels, rather than long-term average levels, the source-to-receptor distances used in the analyses were the estimated range of distances (closest to farthest) between the relevant construction activity and each receptor. Table 3.9-8 provides the PPV levels of worst-case construction equipment expected to be used by the Proposed Project; the levels are provided for a reference distance of 25 feet.

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Figure 3.9-2 Noise Analysis Locations Venice Auxiliary Pumping Plant Project

Chapter 3. Environmental Impact Analysis Noise and Vibration

Table 3.9-8. Construction Equipment Vibration Levels

Equipment Item Reference PPV at 25 feet, in/s a Pile driver 0.65 Large bulldozerb 0.089 Notes: a Obtained from California Department of Transportation 2013b. b Considered representative of other heavy earthmoving equipment such as excavators, graders, backhoes, etc. Source: ICF, 2015

The following equations from the guidance manual were used to estimate the change in PPV levels over distance. For pile driving, the equation is:

PPVrec = PPVref ×(25/D)n × (Eequip/Eref)0.5

where PPVrec is the PPV at a receiver; PPVref is the reference PPV at 25 feet from the pile driver (0.65 in/s); D is the distance from the pile driver to the receiver, in feet; n is a value related to the vibration attenuation rate through ground (the default recommended value for n is 1.1); Eref is 36,000 foot-pounds (rated energy of reference pile driver); and Eequip is the rated energy of the actual impact pile driver in foot-pounds. (For the purposes of the analysis, it is assumed that the pile driver would be very similar to the reference pile driver and there would, therefore, be no adjustment for Eequip.)

For heavy earthmoving equipment such as excavators, graders, and backhoes, the equation is:

PPVrec = PPVref ×(25/D)n

where PPVrec is the PPV at a receptor; PPVref is the reference PPV at 25 feet from the equipment (0.089 in/s); D is the distance from the equipment to the receiver, in feet; and n is a value related to the vibration attenuation rate through ground (the default recommended value for n is 1.1).

Operation Potential noise and vibration impacts associated with project operations were evaluated based primarily on information provided in the project’s Preliminary Design Report (PDR) (Arcadis 2016b). This information included the general project description, preliminary plans, and preliminary specifications for equipment at VAPP that would generate noise. For some equipment, noise data were provided within the PDR; for other equipment representative or additional noise data were obtained from publicly available manufacturers’ specifications or predicted using published algorithms (Barron 2003). It was assumed that noise levels would be reduced at a rate of 6 dB per doubling of distance from the source and the noise levels at sensitive receptors were estimated using standard decibel calculations, including the following. 1. To calculate the change in sound level due to a change in the number of identical equipment items operating:

Δ= 10 × log10 (A/B)

where Δ is the change in total noise level in dB; A is the new number of equipment items; and B is the new number of equipment items.

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2. To calculate a sound pressure level from a stated sound power level:

SPL = SWL + DI - 20 × log10 (D) – 10.9 (Barron 2003)

where SPL is the resulting sound pressure level in dB; SWL is the stated sound power level in dB; DI is the directivity index (with a value of 3 for hemispherical spreading across the ground); and D is the distance from the noise source in feet. 3. To calculate the change in sound pressure level with distance:

SPLrec = SPLref + 20 × log10 (Dref/Drec)

where SPLrec is the sound pressure level, in dB, at a receiver; SPLref is the sound pressure level, in dB, at a reference distance; Dref is the reference distance, in feet, from the noise source; and Drec is the receiver distance, in feet, from the noise source.

Screening Analysis As noted in Chapter 1.0, Introduction, the analysis and conclusions contained in the Initial Study (see Appendix A [Notice of Preparation/Initial Study] of this EIR) prepared for the Proposed Project considered and then eliminated a number of impacts from further analysis, including those contained in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines and the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (2006). Therefore, only those impacts and corresponding thresholds of significance noted below were determined to require further analysis and are addressed in this EIR.

3.9.4.2 Thresholds of Significance Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines provides six criteria, in the form of checklist questions a through e, that can be used to assess the significance of potential noise and vibration impacts. For some (but not all) of these criteria, the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide provides additional guidance on how potential impacts should be quantified or assessed. Where specific guidance is provided by the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide, those thresholds have been used as the basis for assessment of project impacts. For the any remaining criteria, the checklist questions provide the basis of the analysis, with specific thresholds developed, as necessary, from alternate sources as described below.

State CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G The six checklist questions related to potential noise impacts are listed below, followed by a discussion of how each is addressed in this EIR.

Would the project result in:

NOI-1. Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies?

NOI-2. Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive ground-borne vibration or ground-borne noise levels?

NOI-3. A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project?

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NOI-4. A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project?

NOI-5. For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?

NOI-6. For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?

To address checklist questions NOI-1, NOI-3, and NOI-4, the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide provides separate criteria for construction noise and operational noise; these criteria are described below and are used in place of checklist questions NOI-1, NOI-3, and NOI-4 to address potential construction and operational noise impacts. Checklist question NOI-2 does not quantify what would constitute excessive ground-borne vibration or ground-borne noise levels, and the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide does not provide any vibration criteria; therefore, thresholds for this potential impact have been developed based on guidance from Caltrans, as described below. As discussed above, Project implementation would result in no noise impacts related to airports or airstrips, so these issue areas are not included in this analysis and no further discussion of checklist questions NOI-5 or NOI-6 is provided.

City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds Guide

Construction Noise The following threshold of significance for construction noise is based on the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (2006).

The project would have a significant construction noise impact if:

NOI-7. Construction activities lasting more than 1 day would exceed existing ambient exterior noise levels by 10 dBA or more at a noise-sensitive use;

NOI-8. Construction activities lasting more than 10 days in a 3-month period would exceed existing ambient exterior noise levels by 5 dBA or more at a noise-sensitive use; or

NOI-9. Construction activities would exceed the ambient noise level by 5 dBA at a noise-sensitive use between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, or at any time on Sunday.

Proposed CEQA Threshold for Vibration The L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (2006) does not include thresholds for vibration impacts. Because project construction would generate ground-borne vibration, the City uses guidance from Caltrans’ Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual (California Department of Transportation 2013b) to determine the threshold of impact for vibration. Guidelines are provided for two types of potential impact: (1) damage to structures, and (2) annoyance of people. Guideline criteria for each are provided in Tables 3.9-9 and 3.9-10.

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Table 3.9-9. Caltrans Guideline Vibration Damage Criteria

Maximum PPV (in/s) Continuous/Frequent Structure and Condition Transient Sources Intermittent Sources Extremely fragile historic buildings, ruins, ancient 0.12 0.08 monuments Fragile buildings 0.2 0.1 Historic and some old buildings 0.5 0.25 Older residential structures 0.5 0.3 New residential structures 1.0 0.5 Modern industrial/commercial buildings 2.0 0.5 Notes: Transient sources create a single isolated vibration event, such as blasting or drop balls. Continuous/frequent intermittent sources include impact pile drivers, pogo-stick compactors, crack-and-seat equipment, vibratory pile drivers, and vibratory compaction equipment. Source: California Department of Transportation, 2013b.

Table 3.9-10. Caltrans Guideline Vibration Annoyance Criteria

Maximum PPV (in/s) Transient Continuous/Frequent Human Response Sources Intermittent Sources Barely perceptible 0.04 0.01 Distinctly perceptible 0.25 0.04 Strongly perceptible 0.9 0.10 Severe 2.0 0.4 Notes: Transient sources create a single isolated vibration event, such as blasting or drop balls. Continuous/frequent intermittent sources include impact pile drivers, pogo-stick compactors, crack-and-seat equipment, vibratory pile drivers, and vibratory compaction equipment. Source: California Department of Transportation, 2013b.

The construction equipment used at the Project Site would fall into the continuous/frequent intermittent sources category. Based on these guidelines, the following thresholds will be used to assess potential vibration impacts:

NOI-11. The project would have a significant vibration impact, relative to potential building damage, if NOI-13. PPV vibration levels from construction equipment are 0.3 in/s or greater at any existing residential structure, or 0.5 in/s at the adjacent VPP structure.

NOI-12. The project would have a significant vibration impact, relative to potential annoyance, if NOI-15. PPV vibration levels from construction equipment are 0.04 in/s or greater (distinctly perceptible) at any existing residence.

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Operational Noise The following impact threshold for operational noise is based on the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (2006).

NOI-13. The project would have a significant operational noise impact if it causes:

l The ambient noise level measured at the property line of affected uses to increase by 3 dBA in CNEL to or within the “normally unacceptable” or “clearly unacceptable” categories, or any 5 dBA or greater noise increase (refer to Table 3.9-3, above).

For residences this means a significant impact would occur if the project caused the ambient noise level to increase by 3 dB or more to 70 dB CNEL or greater, or to increase by 5 dB or more to less than 70 dB CNEL.

3.9.4.3 Construction Impacts The analysis below describes the temporary impacts related to noise and vibration as a result of the Proposed Project during construction.

NOI-1: Would project construction noise exceed any of the construction noise criteria provided by the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (i.e., exceed existing ambient exterior noise levels by 10 dBA or more at a noise-sensitive use for activities lasting more than 1 day; or exceed existing ambient exterior noise levels by 5 dBA or more at a noise-sensitive use for construction activities lasting more than 10 days in a 3-month period, or activities occurring between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on Saturday, or at any time on Sunday? Two types of short-term noise impacts could occur during construction of the Proposed Project. The first would be related to construction traffic—construction workers who commute to the site and trucks that transport equipment and materials. The second would be on-site construction activities at the Project Site and loading/unloading activities at the three proposed construction laydown areas (see Figure 2-2 in Chapter 2, Project Description). Construction traffic would incrementally increase noise levels on access roads, including Pacific Avenue, Via Dolce, and Canal Court. Construction workers would be required to park off site and then travel to and from the site by shuttle, which would serve to minimize the number of vehicle trips on local streets to and from the Project Site. No construction worker parking would be allowed along Hurricane Street or on adjacent streets. Although there would be a relatively high single-event noise level, which could cause an intermittent noise nuisance (e.g., passing trucks at 50 feet would generate up to 76 dBA), the contribution of construction traffic to ambient noise levels (such as the daily CNEL) would be low due to the infrequent traffic volume. Based on data provided by the Project Engineer (Fehr & Peers 2016)1, there could be up to 24 trucks per day to haul soil to or from the site. To provide a conservative analysis, it was assumed that each truck could travel on the same roadway twice during a round trip (for a total of 48 individual trips). The analysis indicates these truck trips would generate a noise level of up to 52 dB CNEL at the homes adjacent to access roads (refer to Appendix I of this EIR for additional details). This is below the range of existing noise levels measured in the surrounding community (53 to 57 dB CNEL). Therefore, construction traffic would not increase ambient noise levels by 3 dB CNEL or more. As a result, short-term impacts associated with construction-related traffic driving to and from the Project Site would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.

1 Fehr & Peers. 2016. Trip Generation Analysis – Venice Auxiliary Pumping Plant Project. LA15-2780.00. Los Angeles, CA.

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Construction of the Proposed Project is anticipated to begin in March 2018 and last approximately 2 years. Day-to-day construction activities would vary throughout the construction process and would cease once construction of the Proposed Project is completed. In accordance with the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, construction would not take place outside the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays or national holidays. Typical work hours would be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Project construction would be broken down into phases. The phases of construction (see also Chapter 2, Project Description) and anticipated construction equipment for each are summarized in Table 3.9-11.

Table 3.9-11. Construction Phasing and Equipment Items

Construction Phase Equipment Item(s) Demolition Excavator Backhoe Grader Jack Hammer Site Preparation Excavator Grader Crane Grading Backhoe Grader Building Construction Crane Compactor Pile Driver Air Compressor Paving Grader Excavator Concrete Trucks (2) Source: Arcadis, 2015.

Based on this information, average hourly noise levels (i.e., 1-hour Leq) were estimated for each phase of construction at each of the five receptors considered in the analysis (refer to Figure 3.9-2). For the building construction phase, noise levels were estimated both with and without pile driving. This is because pile driving would generally dominate the construction noise levels when it occurs, but would not occur throughout the entire phase. As such, noise levels and the associated potential impacts would be noticeably different with and without pile driving, and it is informative to examine both cases. Detailed calculations are provided in Appendix I of this EIR. The results of the analyses are summarized in Table 3.9-12, below, and show that noise levels could be up to 98 dBA Leq at the nearest sensitive receptor during construction activities that involve pile driving, and up to 89 dBA Leq at the nearest sensitive receptor during construction activities that do not involve pile driving. The table also indicates the average weekday daytime ambient noise levels at each receptor based on the noise measurements summarized in Tables 3.9-5 and 3.9-6. Note that ambient noise levels range from 50 to 54 dBA Leq. Because construction would last for more than 10 days in a 3-month period, a significant impact would occur if construction noise levels were to exceed the existing ambient exterior noise levels by 5 dBA or more at a noise-sensitive use.

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Table 3.9-12. Estimated Construction Noise Levels

1-Hour Leq at Closest Sensitive Receptors, dBA Phase Receptor 1 Receptor 2 Receptor 3 Receptor 4 Receptor 5 Construction Noise Levels Demolition 78 89 85 77 61 Site Preparation 75 86 82 75 58 Grading 74 85 81 73 57 Building Construction 93 98 96 86 75 (with pile driving) Building Construction 71 82 78 71 55 (no pile driving) Paving 76 87 83 75 59 Ambient Noise Levels Average ambient noise level 51 54 50 50 51 (weekday, daytime) Construction Noise Increase Over Ambient Demolition 27 35 35 27 10 Site Preparation 24 32 32 25 7 Grading 23 31 31 23 6 Building Construction 42 44 46 36 24 (with pile driving) Building Construction 20 28 28 21 4 (no pile driving) Paving 25 33 33 25 8 Significant Impact (Exceeds Ambient by 5 dBA or more)? Demolition Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Site Preparation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Grading Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Building Construction Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (with pile driving) Building Construction Yes Yes Yes Yes No (no pile driving) Paving Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Source: ICF, 2015.

Referring to Table 3.9-12, this condition would occur under all the analyzed scenarios for all receptors except for building construction (no pile driving) noise levels at Receptor 5. As shown in this table, construction noise increases over ambient noise levels range from 4 to 46 dB. While implementation of Mitigation Measure (MM) NOI-1, requires a construction noise control plan and includes a list of measures that would reduce construction noise, (see Section 3.9.5) impacts would not be completely eliminated. Even with implementation of the measures listed in MM NOI-1, construction activities are anticipated to result in noise levels that increase the ambient noise levels by more than 5 dB and; therefore, construction noise impacts would remain significant and unavoidable.

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Intermittent construction-related noise would also be generated by activities at nearby storage/laydown areas outside the Project Site at vacant lots adjacent to the Grand Canal (off Via Dolce, Laydown Area 2), Ballona Lagoon (128 Hurricane Street, Laydown Area 1), and in Culver City (9940 Jefferson Boulevard, Laydown Area 3). While these activities would likely be audible at neighboring noise-sensitive receptors and may cause annoyance, they would only occur sporadically and for a limited duration. MM NOI-1, which requires a construction noise control plan and includes a list of measures that would help reduce construction-generated noise, (see Section 3.9.5) would help to minimize noise levels from the storage/laydown areas at noise-sensitive receptors. As no noise sensitive land uses are located in close proximity to Laydown Area 3, noise impacts from the activities would be less than significant. Noise impacts at Laydown Areas 1 and 2 would be reduced with implementation of MM NOI-1; however, overall construction activities would still result in a significant and unavoidable impact.

NOI-2 and NOI-3: Would project construction result in groundborne vibration levels that are distinctly perceptible at a receiving residential use, or could potentially result in building damage?

Referring to the equipment schedule provided above in Table 3.9-11, various pieces of heavy equipment such as graders and excavators would be used at the Project Site, as well as pile driving equipment. Vibration levels (PPV, in/s) were estimated for each phase of construction at each of the five receptors considered in the analysis (refer to Figure 3.9-2), as well as the existing VPP structure, using the methodology described in Section 3.9.4.1. For the building construction phase, vibration levels were estimated both with and without pile driving because pile driving would generally dominate the vibration levels when it occurs, but would not occur throughout the entire phase (it is estimated that a total of up to 30 days of project construction would include pile driving). As such, vibration levels and the associated potential impacts would be noticeably different with and without pile driving, and it is informative to examine both cases. In accordance with the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, construction activities, including pile driving, would not take place outside the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays or national holidays. Typical work hours would be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. MM NOI-1 restricts pile driving, excavation, and jackhammer activities to 9 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Saturday.

Detailed vibration calculations are provided in Appendix I of this EIR. The results of the analyses are summarized in Table 3.9-13, below as a range of vibration levels based on the estimated range of distances from each receiver that would occur as construction activity shifts around the Project Site and impacts are assessed relative to the highest PPV. Modeling results generally show that vibration levels from building construction with pile driving would exceed the annoyance threshold (distinctly perceptible vibration of 0.04 in/s for the continuous/frequent intermittent sources) for vibration at receptors 1, 2, 3, and 4. Vibration levels from demolition, site preparation, grading, building construction without pile driving, and paving would exceed the annoyance thresholds at receptors 2 and 3. Vibration levels from building construction with pile driving would exceed the potential damage thresholds (0.3 in/s at homes and 0.5 in/s at VPP) at receptors 1, 2, and 3, and at the existing VPP structure; however, no other construction activities would result in exceedance of the potential damage threshold.

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Table 3.9-13. Estimated Construction Vibration Levels

Range of PPV at Closest Sensitive Receptors, in/s VPP Phase Receptor 1 Receptor 2 Receptor 3 Receptor 4 Receptor 5 Structure Demolition 0.010–0.022 0.022–0.244 0.016–0.089 0.009–0.023 0.003–0.004 0.017–0.073 Site Preparation 0.010–0.022 0.022–0.244 0.016–0.089 0.009–0.023 0.003–0.004 0.017–0.073 Grading 0.010–0.022 0.022–0.244 0.016–0.089 0.009–0.023 0.003–0.004 0.017–0.073 Building Construction 0.076–0.303 0.159–1.781 0.091–0.532 0.082–0.141 0.024–0.029 0.127–0.532 (with pile driving) Building Construction 0.010–0.022 0.022–0.244 0.016–0.089 0.008–0.020 0.003–0.004 0.017–0.073 (no pile driving) Paving 0.010–0.022 0.022–0.244 0.016–0.089 0.009–0.023 0.003–0.004 0.017–0.073 Significant Impact Relative to Potential Annoyance Threshold (0.04 in/s at homes)? Demolition No Yes Yes No No N/A Site Preparation No Yes Yes No No N/A Grading No Yes Yes No No N/A Building Construction Yes Yes Yes Yes No N/A (with pile driving) Building Construction No Yes Yes No No N/A (no pile driving) Paving No Yes Yes No No N/A Significant Impact Relative to Potential Damage Threshold (0.3 in/s at homes, 0.5 in/s at VPP)? Demolition No No No No No No Site Preparation No No No No No No Grading No No No No No No Building Construction Yes Yes Yes No No Yes (with pile driving) Building Construction No No No No No No (no pile driving) Paving No No No No No No Demolition No No No No No No Source: ICF, 2015

Referring to the table, groundborne vibration from construction, including both pile driving and other construction activities, would exceed the thresholds developed for potential annoyance at nearby homes; ground-borne vibration from pile driving activities would exceed the thresholds developed for potential vibration damage at nearby structures. MM NOI-2, which requires the implementation of strategies to reduce construction-related vibration effects (the use of alternative pile driving methods, pre-construction surveys of adjacent structures, and possible monitoring during construction), would reduce construction vibration effects related to both of the thresholds. Impacts related to the threshold associated with potential building damage would be reduced to less than significant with implementation of MM NOI-2. Impacts related to the threshold associated with annoyance from distinctly perceptible vibration cannot be completely eliminated and vibration levels would remain distinctly perceptible at

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residential buildings within approximately 52 feet of heavy construction equipment even after implementation of MM NOI-1 and MM NOI-2; therefore, this impact would remain significant and unavoidable.

3.9.4.4 Operational Impacts The analysis below describes the anticipated permanent impacts related to noise and vibration as a result of the Proposed Project during operation.

NOI-3 and NOI-4: Would project operational noise exceed the operational noise criteria provided by the L.A. CEQA Thresholds Guide (i.e., cause the ambient noise level measured at the property line of affected uses to increase by 3 dB CNEL to or within the “normally unacceptable” or “clearly unacceptable” categories, or any 5 dBA or greater noise increase)?

Once completed, VAPP would contain a number of equipment items and systems that would generate noise during operation. The primary noise sources would include the following:

l Three submersible pumps, with associated electrical motors and variable frequency drives. Each pump would have a design capacity of 18 million gallons per day and each pump, motor, and variable frequency drive would have a nominal power rating of 500 horsepower (HP). These pumps would be below ground and installed in a subterranean vault with sealed access hatches.

l Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. A 20-ton year-round cooling and ventilation unit is proposed for the first floor of the electrical building. A 5-ton heat pump is proposed for the second floor of the electrical building. The office and the mechanical room would each have a 40-cubic-feet-per-minute ventilation fan, and the bathroom would be provided with a 140-cubic-feet-per-minute exhaust fan. The cooling and ventilation unit and the heat pump would be outside the building; the exhaust fans would be inside the building or on the rooftop.

l An emergency generator. A 24-kilowatt (kW) diesel generator inside the electrical building would provide backup power to VAPP critical loads in the event of loss of power from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The generator would provide 24 kW of power at 120/240 volts (V) for lighting and other support systems such as security and access control, and air conditioning. (This generator would not be of sufficient size to power the pumps within VAPP; standby power for pumps at VAPP would be provided by the existing 750-kW to 1,500- kW diesel generators at VPP.)

l Two new 34.5 kV – 480 V pad-mounted type transformers installed on existing exterior ground floor pads and connected to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power electrical power lines.

Potential noise levels generated by each of these sources are discussed below.

Pumps In order to estimate noise levels from the proposed pumps, noise measurements were obtained at the existing VPP. The pumps and motors operating during these measurements were slightly smaller than the proposed VAPP equipment (400 HP versus 500 HP) but had the same nominal design capacity of 18 million gallons per day. Therefore, the noise levels are expected to be similar.

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As noted previously (see Section 3.9.4.1, Methodology), noise measurements at the existing VPP indicate interior noise levels of 83.6 dBA for two motors running simultaneously and 83.8 dBA for two pumps running simultaneously. The average distance to the noise sources during the measurements was approximately 10 feet. At VAPP, up to three pumps and motors are expected to run simultaneously under worst-case conditions (only during extreme wet-weather conditions or in the event that service or maintenance of pumps at the VPP is required). In this condition, an overall noise level increase of 1.8 dB relative to two pumps and motors running would result. Furthermore, the pumps and motors at VAPP would be located in the same subterranean vault, resulting in a total estimated noise level of approximately 89 dBA Leq within the vault. If the equipment were to run for 24 hours, this would equate to approximately 95 dB CNEL. In order to avoid increasing ambient noise levels by more than 5 dB CNEL, the noise levels would have to be reduced to less than 56 dB CNEL (based on the measured ambient CNEL of 53 dB). Adjusting for the distance from the pumps and motors to the closest noise-sensitive receptor (the residence approximately 32 feet to the northwest) the noise level would be reduced by approximately 10 dB2 to 85 dB CNEL. The pumps and motors would also be enclosed within a concrete vault, which can reasonably be assumed to reduce noise levels by at least 20 dB (Caltrans 2013) resulting in a noise level of 65 dB CNEL. This would increase ambient noise levels by more than 5 dB CNEL, which would be a significant impact. MM NOI-3, which requires final design of the Project to limit noise increases and ensure that all mechanical and electrical equipment noise levels comply with the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, would reduce noise impacts to less than significant with incorporation of mitigation measures.

HVAC Equipment Noise levels for the proposed 20-ton cooling and ventilation unit were obtained from manufacturer’s data for the unit specified in the PDR (Arcadis 2016b; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation 2014). The data indicate an overall noise level of 63 dBA at a distance of 1 meter (3.3 feet) from the side of the unit; based on the published dimensions of the unit, this equates to an acoustical average distance of approximately 5.2 feet. Published data for a 5-ton heat pump (Ingersoll-Rand 2015) indicate a sound power level of up to 75 dBA. Normalizing these source data to a reference distance of 50 feet gives reference noise levels of 43.3 dBA3 and 43.4 dBA,4 respectively, for the two units. Based on preliminary design plans, the HVAC units would be located on an exterior ground-floor pad adjacent to the northwest facade of the electrical building. The anticipated noise levels from the mechanical room and bathroom ventilation fans would be minimal in the surrounding community due to the relatively small size of the fans and because they would typically vent through the roof of the electrical building, where they would be shielded from neighboring properties. Based on the described assumptions and data, Table 3.9-14 summarizes the estimated noise levels at each of the five sensitive receptors considered in the analysis (refer to Figure 3.9-2). The table also indicates the combined HVAC noise level, the estimated CNEL that would occur if the equipment was to run continuously for 24 hours, a comparison to existing ambient noise levels, and the assessment of impact. The analysis indicates that HVAC noise levels would range from approximately 34 to 66 dB CNEL at the closest sensitive receptors, and would increase the overall CNEL by between 0 and 13 dB.

2 20 × log10 (10/32) = 10.1

3 63 dBA + 20 × log10 (5.2/50) = 43.3 dBA

4 75 dBA + 3 - 20 × log10 (50*0.3048) – 0.6 = 43.4 dBA

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Table 3.9-14. Estimated HVAC Noise Levels

Noise Level at Closest Sensitive Receptors, dBA (distance, feet) Equipment Item/ Reference Receptor 1 Receptor 2 Receptor 3 Receptor 4 Receptor 5 Noise Source Leq @ 50' (140 feet) (12 feet) (50 feet) (150 feet) (480 feet) 20-ton cooling and 43.3 dBA 34.4 dBA 55.7 dBA 43.3 dBA 33.8 dBA 23.7 dBA ventilation unit Leq Leq Leq Leq Leq 5-ton heat pump 43.4 dBA 34.5 dBA 55.8 dBA 43.4 dBA 33.9 dBA 23.8 dBA Leq Leq Leq Leq Leq Combined HVAC 46.4 dBA 37.5 dBA 58.8 dBA 46.6 dBA 36.9 dBA 26.8 dBA noise level, dBA Leq Leq Leq Leq Leq Leq Combined HVAC N/A 44.2 dB 65.5 dB 53.1 dB 43.6 dB 33.5 dB CNEL, dBa CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL Existing Ambient N/A 57 dB CNEL 52.8–56.5 56 dB CNEL 56 dB CNEL 57 dB CNEL CNEL dB CNEL Total CNEL (HVAC N/A 57.2 dB 65.7–66.0 57.8 dB 56.2 dB 57.0 dB + Ambient) CNEL dB CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL Increase over N/A 0.2 dB 9.5–12.9 dB 1.8 dB 0.2 dB 0 dB ambient CNEL Significant impact N/A No Yes No No No Notes: a Assumes equipment runs 24 hours per day Source: ICF International, 2016.

Referring to the results of the analysis, HVAC noise is anticipated to increase ambient noise levels at Receptor 2 by more than 5 dB CNEL, which would be a potentially significant impact. However, with implementation of MM NOI-3, which requires final design of the Project to limit noise increases and ensure that all mechanical and electrical equipment noise levels comply with the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, this significant impact would be reduced to a less-than-significant level with incorporated mitigation measures.

Emergency Generator The new 24 kW standby generator, used to provide critical backup power in the event of loss of power from LADWP, would be housed inside of the proposed electrical building. Based on preliminary design plans in the PDR (Arcadis 2016b), the generator room would be on the first floor, at the southeast corner of the building. Noise levels for the generator were obtained from manufacturer’s data for the unit specified in the PDR (Kohler Power Systems 2014). The manufacturer’s data indicate an overall noise level of 66 dBA at a distance of 23 feet from the unit when installed with the manufacturer’s sound-attenuating housing; this reference noise level was utilized to calculate estimated noise levels at the nearest noise-sensitive receptors. Table 3.9-15 summarizes the estimated noise levels at each of the five sensitive receptors considered in the analysis; these values do not account for the sound-attenuating benefits of enclosing the generator inside the building, which is a conservative approach. The table also indicates the estimated CNEL that would occur if the generator was to run continuously for 24 hours, a comparison to existing ambient noise levels, and the assessment of impact. The analysis indicates that generator noise levels would range from approximately 47 to 65 dB CNEL at the closest sensitive receptors, and would increase the overall CNEL by between 0 and 11 dB.

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Table 3.9-15. Estimated Standby Generator Noise Levels

Noise Level at Closest Sensitive Receptors, dBA (distance, feet) Equipment Item/ Reference Receptor 1 Receptor 2 Receptor 3 Receptor 4 Receptor 5 Noise Source Leq @ 23' (145 feet) (65 feet) (55 feet) (125 feet) (440 feet) 24-kW standby 66 dBA 50.0 dBA 57.0 dBA 58.4 dBA 51.3 dBA 40.4 dBA generator Leq Leq Leq Leq Leq Generator CNEL, N/A 56.7 dB 63.7 dB 65.1 dB 58.0 dB 47.1 dB dBa CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL Existing Ambient N/A 57 dB CNEL 52.8–56.5 56 dB CNEL 56 dB CNEL 57 dB CNEL CNEL dB CNEL Total CNEL (HVAC N/A 59.9 dB 64.0–64.4 65.6 dB 60.1 dB 57.4 dB + Ambient) CNEL dB CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL Increase over N/A 2.9 dB 7.9–11.2 dB 9.6 dB 4.1 dB 0.4 dB ambient CNEL Significant impact N/A No Yes Yes No No Notes: a Assumes equipment runs 24 hours per day Source: ICF International, 2016.

Based on the results of the analysis, there is the potential for significant noise impacts (increases in ambient noise levels of 5 dB CNEL or more) associated with operation of the emergency generator. This significant impact could extend up to approximately 105 feet from the emergency generator. The electrical building would be required to provide approximately 8 dB of noise attenuation to eliminate impacts on nearby sensitive receptors (i.e., to reduce the resulting noise increases to less than 5 dB CNEL). MM NOI-3, which requires final design of the Project to limit noise increases and ensure that all mechanical and electrical equipment noise levels comply with the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, would reduce noise impacts to less-than-significant with incorporation of mitigation measures.

Electrical Transformers Noise levels for the proposed new electrical transformers were estimated assuming they would have a similar power rating to the existing VPP transformers, which are rated at 1,500 thousand volt- amps (kVA). Using published prediction algorithms (Barron 2003), the sound power level of each transformer was estimated to be 76 dBA. Normalizing this source level to a reference distance of 50 feet gives a reference noise level of 41.4 dBA5 for each transformer. Based on preliminary design plans, the transformers would be located on exterior ground-floor pads between the southwest facade of the electrical building and the southwest project property line. Based on the described assumptions and data, Table 3.9-16 summarizes the estimated noise levels at each of the five sensitive receptors considered in the analysis (refer to Figure 3.9-2) due to the operation of the two transformers. The table also indicates the estimated CNEL that would occur if the transformers were to run continuously for 24 hours, a comparison to existing ambient noise levels, and the assessment of impact. The analysis indicates that transformer noise levels would range from approximately 25 to 49 dB CNEL at the closest sensitive receptors, and would increase the overall CNEL by between 0 and 4 dB. Referring to the results of the analysis, transformer noise is not anticipated to increase

5 76 dBA - 20 × log10 (50) – 0.6 = 41.4 dBA

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Table 3.9-16. Estimated Transformer Noise Levels

Noise Level at Closest Sensitive Receptors, dBA Equipment (distance, feet from each transformer) Item/Noise Reference Receptor 1 Receptor 2 Receptor 3 Receptor 4 Receptor 5 Source Leq @ 50' (165', 165') (27', 56') (28', 28') (110', 130') (440', 475')

1,500 kVA 41.4 dBA 31.0 dBA Leq 46.8 dBA Leq 46.4 dBA Leq 34.6 dBA Leq 22.5 dBA Leq transformer

1,500 kVA 41.4 dBA 31.0 dBA Leq 40.4 dBA Leq 46.4 dBA Leq 33.1 dBA Leq 21.8 dBA Leq transformer

Combined N/A 34.0 dBA Leq 47.7 dBA Leq 49.4 dBA Leq 36.9 dBA Leq 25.2 dBA Leq Transformer noise level, dBA Leq Combined N/A 40.7 dB 54.4 dB 56.1 dB 43.6 dB 31.9 dB HVAC CNEL, CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL dBa Existing N/A 57 dB CNEL 52.8–56.5 56 dB CNEL 56 dB CNEL 57 dB CNEL Ambient CNEL dB CNEL Total CNEL N/A 57.1 dB 56.7–58.6 59.1 dB 56.2 dB 57.0 dB (HVAC + CNEL dB CNEL CNEL CNEL CNEL Ambient) Increase over N/A 0.1 dB 2.1–3.9 dB 3.1 dB 0.2 dB 0 dB ambient CNEL Significant N/A No No No No No impact Notes: a Assumes equipment runs 24 hours per day Source: ICF International, 2016.

ambient noise levels at any sensitive receptor by 5 dB CNEL or more. However, transformer noise would contribute to the overall operational noise levels for the facility, which are identified elsewhere in this section as being potentially significant. MM NOI-3, which requires final design of the project to limit noise increases and ensure that all mechanical and electrical equipment noise levels comply with the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, would reduce operational noise impacts to less-than-significant with incorporation of mitigation measures.

In addition to the various noise sources discussed above, some noise would be generated by the parking for the Proposed Project that would be provided on the 128 Hurricane Street lot. While sporadic noise would be audible at neighboring properties, the overall level and nature of the noise would be similar to that of the street parking activity that currently occurs in the neighborhood, Therefore, future operation of 128 Hurricane Street as a parking lot would not lead to a noticeable increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity and the impact would be less than significant.

Operational Vibration The Proposed Project is not anticipated to produce significant levels of groundborne vibration once operational. While the project would include rotating machinery (i.e., pumps and motors), it is anticipated that this equipment would be well-maintained and balanced as part of the general long-

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term maintenance of the facility, which would prevent excessive vibration. In addition, it is assumed that the equipment would be installed according to the manufacturers’ requirements, including any recommended resilient mounts. Furthermore, the largest of the equipment items would be installed below ground and the mass of the structure (a concrete vault/building) would be large relative to the mass of the rotating machinery, which would limit the ability of such machinery to induce significant levels of vibration in the structure of the VAPP. Therefore, no impact is anticipated. 3.9.5 Mitigation Measures The following mitigation measures were developed to avoid or minimize the Proposed Project’s potential impacts related to noise and vibration.

MM NOI-1: Prepare and Implement a Construction Noise Control Plan. To reduce the significant construction noise impacts, the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering (LABOE) and Contractor shall develop a noise control plan that includes the implementation of the following noise reduction measures during construction.

a) Construction Hours - The operation of construction equipment shall occur only between 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturdays. No construction activity shall occur on national holidays or at any time on Sundays. Access to the construction site may occur prior to construction hours for the purpose of set up, conducting safety meetings, etc. The use of the pile driver, grader and jackhammer construction equipment shall be limited to the hours of 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. However, specific work related to the VAPP connection the manifold will be exempt from these hours, along with any emergency conditions or unforeseen work that would require the use of this equipment to complete a specific task in one continuous work event. Haul trucks can only access the site through local neighborhood streets from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Construction personnel shall not be permitted on the Project Site (including laydown and storage areas) outside of the hours of 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Material or equipment deliveries and collections shall not occur outside the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. In addition, no construction worker parking would be allowed along Hurricane Street or on adjacent local streets. Construction workers shall park offsite and arrive by shuttle to the construction site, as arranged by the construction contractor.

b) Piles - All piles, including sheeting, shall be installed and extracted using vibration- and percussive-free methods.

c) Construction Mitigation Coordinator – The City and/or its Contractor shall maintain good communication with the surrounding community regarding the schedule, duration, and progress of construction activities. Residents at properties within 500 feet of construction activities shall be notified 72 hours in advance of the planned activities prior to the start of work. The notification shall advise that there will be loud noise associated with the construction, and shall state the date, time, and expected duration of the planned activities. The notification shall provide a telephone contact number for affected parties to ask questions or share any concerns. A construction mitigation coordinator for the Project will be required to maintain a call log, so that the City can track resolution and nature of any complaints. These complaints may range from noise, vibration, dust, traffic, etc. The call log shall contain the name and address (if available) of the person making the complaint, i the date and time of the call, and any details regarding the nature of the complaint related to noise, vibration, dust, parking, traffic, etc. related to construction activities. The call log shall

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be provided to the Public Works Department (Public Affairs Office, LA Sanitation, LABOE) upon request. Residents shall be informed of the construction mitigation coordinator and on-site construction supervisor contact information by posting of the phone number on the construction site. Signage should be visible from Canal Court, the Esplanade, Via Dolce, and Hurricane Street.

d) Noise barriers - To the extent practicable, temporary noise barriers with a minimum height of 20 feet shall be employed around the Project Site. Openings in the barriers shall be kept to the minimum necessary for access of vehicles, equipment, and construction material. These barriers shall be constructed as follows.

From commercially available acoustical panels lined with sound-absorbing material (the sound-absorptive faces of the panels shall face the construction equipment); or,

From acoustical blankets hung over or from a supporting frame. The blankets shall provide a minimum sound transmission class rating of 28 and a minimum noise-reduction coefficient of 0.80 and shall be firmly secured to the framework with the sound-absorptive side of the blankets oriented toward the construction equipment. The blankets shall be overlapped by at least 6 inches at seams and taped so that no gaps exist. The largest blankets available shall be used in order to minimize the number of seams. The blankets shall be draped to the ground to eliminate any gaps at the base of the barrier.

e) For noise-generating equipment that cannot be shielded by site perimeter barriers, localized noise barriers or enclosures shall be employed wherever feasible. The height and location of these barriers/enclosures shall be designed to block the line of sight between the equipment and the surrounding homes.

f) Noise Monitoring Plan - LABOE/Contractor shall retain the services of an acoustical/noise consultant to prepare a Noise Monitoring Plan. The plan shall be site-specific for monitoring and reporting construction noise levels in the community to evaluate the Contractor’s performance. Based on details of the Contractor’s specific construction schedule, the plan shall develop construction noise goals, in terms of 1-hour Leq, that should be achieved for each phase of construction with the inclusion of feasible and practicable noise abatement measures. If noise monitoring indicates the applicable noise goals have been exceeded, steps shall be taken to promptly implement any additional effective abatement measures that are feasible and/or practicable.

g) Quiet construction equipment - To the fullest extent practicable, the quietest available type of construction equipment shall be used. Newer equipment is generally quieter than older equipment. The use of electric-powered equipment is typically quieter than diesel- or gasoline-powered equipment, and hydraulic-powered equipment is typically quieter than pneumatic-powered equipment.

h) Construction equipment noise compliance - All construction equipment used on the proposed Project that is regulated for noise output by a local, state, or federal agency shall comply with such regulation while in the course of Project activity and use on site.

i) Proper maintenance - All construction equipment shall be properly maintained, as poor maintenance of equipment may cause excessive noise levels.

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j) Equipment mufflers, shrouds and shields - All construction equipment shall be equipped with properly operating and maintained mufflers, air-inlet silencers where appropriate, and any other shrouds, shields, or other noise-reducing features that meet or exceed original factory specifications.

k) No idling - All construction equipment shall be operated only when necessary, and shall be switched off when not in use. Idling inactive construction equipment for prolonged periods (i.e., more than 2 minutes) shall not be permitted.

l) Minimum use of audible safety warnings - The use of noise-producing signals, including horns, whistles, alarms, and bells, shall be for safety warning purposes only.

m) No Project-related public address or music system shall be audible at any adjacent residential receptor.

n) Construction work training - Construction employees shall be trained in the proper operation and use of the equipment. Careless or improper operation or inappropriate use of equipment can increase noise levels. Poor loading, unloading, excavation, and hauling techniques are examples of how a lack of adequate guidance and training may lead to increased noise levels.

o) Generator and compressor placement - Stationary noise sources such as generators and compressors shall be positioned as far as possible from noise sensitive areas.

p) Construction equipment storage – Construction equipment shall be stored on the Project Site or designated laydown areas while in use, to the extent feasible. This will eliminate noise associated with repeated transportation of the equipment to and from the site.

MM-NOI-2: Implement ground-borne vibration control measures to reduce construction- generated vibration. To reduce the significant construction vibration impacts, LABOE/Contractor shall implement the following vibration reduction measures during project construction:

All piles, including sheeting, shall be installed and extracted using vibration- and percussive-free methods.

LABOE and/or Contractor shall retain a qualified structural or geotechnical engineer to conduct pre-construction surveys of adjacent neighboring structures (including photographing and/or videotaping) to document existing building conditions for future comparison if any vibration- related damage is suspected or results from construction-related activities.

If considered appropriate by the structural/geotechnical engineer, monitoring shall be conducted during construction to check for vibration-related damage from equipment during its use. Such monitoring may include vibration measurements obtained inside or outside of the buildings, or other tests and observations deemed necessary.

MM-NOI-3: Design project facilities to reduce noise from all mechanical and electrical equipment to levels that comply with applicable regulations. To reduce the significant operational noise impacts to less than significant, noise control features shall be included during the final architectural and engineering design phase of the project, to reduce overall operational noise levels from all project-related sources to within 5 dB CNEL of existing ambient noise levels in the surrounding community (53 to 57 dB CNEL, as described in Table 3.9-6), and to comply with

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Chapter XI of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code (i.e., restrict noise level increases, relative to the existing 1-hour Leq, to 5 dBA or less). The City shall retain an acoustical/noise consultant to evaluate the design and provide recommendations for specific noise-control features, as necessary, feasible, and practicable, based on the final equipment selections and specifications for the project. Such noise control features may include, but are not limited to, the following. a) Selecting equipment with lower sound power levels. b) Adjusting the location of equipment items within the Project Site to increase the distance from the closest sensitive receptors and/or increase acoustical shielding provided by intervening structures, where practicable and feasible. c) Shielding noise-generating equipment with screens, acoustical panels, enclosures, or block walls. d) Using sound-rated doors, windows, and access hatches at the electrical building and subterranean vault. e) Adding sound-absorptive materials to interior spaces to reduce buildup of reverberant noise levels. f) Designing ventilation systems with acoustical louvers, intake and exhaust silencers, and other features to control exterior noise propagation from interior sources. In addition, the following best management practices will be implemented: BMP-NOI-1: Offsite Work Space: The City shall work with the construction contractor to identify potential offsite shared office space that could be made available to residents in the immediate vicinity that work at home during weekday construction hours. The space would ideally have internet service and meeting room space. 3.9.6 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts While MM NOI-1 would reduce construction noise levels to the extent feasible, it would not eliminate the predicted noise impacts entirely; therefore, construction noise impacts are considered significant and unavoidable.

While MM NOI-2 would substantially reduce construction vibration levels and mitigate the potential impacts related to building damage, it would not eliminate all the predicted impacts related to annoyance at nearby residences; therefore, construction vibration impacts are considered significant and unavoidable.

It is noted that all significant and unavoidable impacts related to project construction would be temporary and would cease once project construction is complete.

All operational noise impacts would be less than significant after implementation of MM NOI-3. 3.9.7 Cumulative Impacts As identified in Chapter 1, Introduction, a number of related projects are proposed in relatively close proximity to the Project Site (within 0 to 0.5 miles). The following sections discuss the cumulative impacts that could occur if construction or operation of these related projects occurs simultaneously with the Proposed Project.

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3.9.7.1 Construction

Noise

Some of the related projects would bring additional construction activity into the immediate vicinity of the Project Site. Specifically, the Venice Dual Force Main Project and projects at the existing VPP would require the use of heavy construction equipment that would affect the same nearby receptors affected by the Proposed Project. Assuming similar construction equipment could be used for two projects simultaneously, the total amount of construction equipment could be doubled, leading to a 3 dB increase in construction noise levels at adjacent receptors. While the Venice Dual Force Main Project construction activity is expected to be completed in the vicinity of the VPP before the start of construction of the proposed VAPP project, it is possible that some portions of the projects in Marina del Rey could still be occurring and overlap with the VAPP construction period. Because project construction noise impacts are predicted to be significant, the cumulative impact would also be significant. While MM NOI-1 would reduce the Proposed Project’s contribution to cumulative noise levels to the extent feasible, it would not eliminate the predicted noise impacts entirely; therefore, cumulative construction noise impacts are considered significant and unavoidable.

Vibration

The assessment of vibration from construction activities is based on distinct single events, using the instantaneous vibration (PPV) from a single piece of equipment. Therefore, the vibration levels experienced at any specific time at a given receptor are typically dominated by a single piece of construction equipment, and the cumulative increase due to additional pieces of equipment is minimal. However, because project construction vibration impacts are predicted to be significant, the cumulative impact would also be significant. While MM NOI-2 would substantially reduce the Proposed Project’s contribution to construction vibration levels and mitigate the project’s potential impacts related to building damage, it would not eliminate all the predicted impacts related to annoyance at nearby residences; therefore, cumulative construction vibration impacts are considered significant and unavoidable.

3.9.7.2 Operation

Noise

Once operational, noise and vibration levels from related projects are expected to be less than significant either because of the nature of the projects themselves (for instance, subterranean pipelines would not be expected to generate significant noise in the surrounding community) and/or because each project would be required to comply with the City Municipal Code’s noise limits. Because MM NOI-3 would reduce the Proposed Project’s operational noise levels to comply with both the municipal code and the thresholds of the City’s CEQA Guidelines, the cumulative operational noise impacts would also be less than significant.

Vibration

As discussed above, the Proposed Project is not anticipated to produce significant levels of groundborne vibration once operational and would, therefore, not have a meaningful contribution to cumulative operational vibration levels (if any) in the area. Furthermore, one of the related

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projects is actually proposed for the purposes of reducing vibration levels at the adjacent VPP which would lead to an improvement over existing conditions related to that facility. Consequently, the cumulative operational vibration impacts are anticipated to be less than significant.

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