NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 Appendix A1 Discussion of Noise and Its Effects on the Environment A1‐1 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 This page intentionally left blank. A1-2 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 Acknowledgements This review of noise and its effects on the environment was prepared by Wyle Laboratories, Inc., with contributions from Blue Ridge Research and Consulting LLC and Ecology and Environment, Inc. A1-3 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 This page intentionally left blank. A1-4 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS A1 DISCUSSION OF NOISE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT ....................................... A1-11 A1.1 Basics of Sound ............................................................................................................... A1-11 A1.1.1 Sound Waves and Decibels .................................................................................. A1-11 A1.1.2 Sound Levels and Types of Sounds ...................................................................... A1-14 A1.1.3 Low-Frequency Noise .......................................................................................... A1-15 A1.2 Noise Metrics .................................................................................................................. A1-16 A1.2.1 Single Events ........................................................................................................ A1-17 A1.2.2 Cumulative Events ............................................................................................... A1-18 A1.2.3 Supplemental Metrics .......................................................................................... A1-21 A1.3 Noise Effects.................................................................................................................... A1-21 A1.3.1 Annoyance ........................................................................................................... A1-22 A1.3.2 Speech Interference ............................................................................................ A1-28 A1.3.3 Sleep Disturbance ................................................................................................ A1-31 A1.3.4 Noise-Induced Hearing Impairment .................................................................... A1-34 A1.3.5 Nonauditory Health Effects ................................................................................. A1-41 A1.3.6 Performance Effects ............................................................................................ A1-49 A1.3.7 Noise Effects on Children ..................................................................................... A1-50 A1.3.8 Property Values ................................................................................................... A1-54 A1.3.9 Noise-Induced Vibration Effects on Structures and Humans .............................. A1-55 A1.3.10 Noise Effects on Terrain ................................................................................. A1-58 A1.3.11 Noise Effects on Historical and Archaeological Sites ...................................... A1-58 A1.3.12 Effects on Domestic Animals and Wildlife ...................................................... A1-59 A1.4 References ...................................................................................................................... A1-74 A1-5 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 List of Figures Figure A-1 Sound Waves from a Vibrating Tuning Fork ............................................................... A1-11 Figure A-2 Frequency Characteristics of A- and C-Weighting ...................................................... A1-13 Figure A-3 Typical A-weighted Sound Levels of Common Sounds ............................................... A1-15 Figure A-4 Sample Time History of Noise Generated by an Aircraft Flyover Event ..................... A1-17 Figure A-5 Example of Leq(24), DNL, and CNEL Computed from Hourly Equivalent Sound Levels .......................................................................................................................... A1-18 Figure A-6 Typical DNL or CNEL Ranges in Various Types of Communities ................................. A1-20 Figure A-7 Schultz Curve Relating Noise Annoyance to DNL ....................................................... A1-23 Figure A-8 Response of Communities to Noise: A Comparison of Original Schultz (1978) Curve to Finegold et al (1994) Curve .......................................................................... A1-24 Figure A-9 Percent Highly Annoyed: A Comparison of ISO 1996-1 to FICON 1992 ...................... A1-26 Figure A-10 Speech Intelligibility Curve .......................................................................................... A1-29 Figure A-11 FICAN 1997 Recommended Sleep Disturbance Dose-Response Relationship ........... A1-32 Figure A-12 RANCH Study Reading Scores Varying with Leq ........................................................... A1-51 Figure A-13 Depiction of Sound Transmission through Built Construction ................................... A1-56 A1-6 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 List of Tables Table A-1 Non-Acoustic Variables Influencing Aircraft Noise Annoyance .................................. A1-24 Table A-2 Percent Highly Annoyed by Different Transportation-Noise Sources ........................ A1-25 Table A-3 Indoor Noise Level Criteria Based on Speech Intelligibility ........................................ A1-31 Table A-4 Probability of Awakening from NA90SEL .................................................................... A1-33 th Table A-5 Average (Ave.) NIPTS and 10 Percentile NIPTS as a Function of Leq(24) ..................... A1-36 Table A-6 Vibration Criteria for the Evaluation of Human Exposure to Whole-Body Vibration ..................................................................................................................... A1-58 A1-7 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 This page intentionally left blank. A1-8 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 Abbreviations and Acronyms Acronym Definition Acronym Definition AGL Above Ground Level Ldnmr Onset-Rate Adjusted Monthly Day-Night Average Sound Level ANSI American National Standards Institute Leq Equivalent Sound Level CHABA Committee on Hearing, Leq(24) Equivalent Sound Level over 24 Bioacoustics, and Biomechanics hours CNEL Community Noise Equivalent Leq(30min) Equivalent Sound Level over 30 Level minutes dB Decibel Leq(8) Equivalent Sound Level over 8 hours dBA or dB(A) A-Weighted Decibel Leq(h) Hourly Equivalent Sound Level DLR German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- Lmax Maximum Sound Level und Raumfahrt e.V.) Lpk Peak Sound Pressure Level DNL Day-Night Average Sound Level mmHg millimeters of mercury DNWG Defense Noise Working Group NA Number of Events Above DoD Department of Defense NAL Number of Events Above a EU European Union Threshold Level FAA (U.S.) Federal Aviation NDI Noise Depreciation Index Administration NIPTS Noise-induced Permanent FICAN Federal Interagency Committee Threshold Shift on Aviation Noise NORAH Noise-Related Annoyance, FICON Federal Interagency Committee Cognition, and Health on Noise OSHA United States Occupational HYENA Hypertension and Exposure to Safety and Health Administration Noise near Airports PHL Potential Hearing Loss Hz Hertz PTS Permanent Threshold Shift IHD Ischemic heart disease RANCH Road Traffic and Aircraft Noise IRR Incidence Rate Ratio Exposure and Children’s Cognition and Health ISO International Organization for Standardization SEL Sound Exposure Level L Sound Level SIL Speech Interference Level LAX Los Angeles International Airport SUA Special Use Airspace Lct Community Tolerance Level TA Time Above Ldn Day-Night Average Sound Level TTS Temporary Threshold Shift A1-9 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 Acronym Definition Acronym Definition U.S. United States USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency WHO World Health Organization A1-10 Appendix A1 NAS Whidbey Island Complex Growler FEIS, Volume 2 September 2018 A1 Discussion of Noise and its Effects on the Environment This appendix discusses sound and noise, and the potential effects of noise, particularly aircraft noise, on the human and natural environment. Section A1.1 provides an overview of the basics of sound and noise. Section A1.2 defines and describes the various metrics used to describe noise. Section A1.3 reviews the potential effects of aircraft noise, focusing on effects on humans but also addressing effects on property values, terrain, structures, and animals. Section A1.4 contains the list of references cited. A1.1 Basics of Sound Section A1.1 describes sound waves and decibels, and Section A1.2 describes sound levels and types of sounds. A1.1.1 Sound Waves and Decibels Sound consists of minute vibrations that travel through the air and are sensed by the human ear. Figure A-1 depicts how sound waves emanate from a tuning fork. As shown, the waves move outward as a series of crests, in which the air is compressed, and troughs, in which the