DOT HS 812 347 November 2016 Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid And Electric Vehicles Final Environmental Assessment Suggested APA Format Citation: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2016, November). Minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles: Final environmental assessment (Document submitted to Docket Number NHTSA-2011-0100. Report No. DOT HS 812 347). Washington, DC: Author. Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Final Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... v LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... vi GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS ...................................................................................................... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... xi 1 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................. 8 1.4 Incomplete and Unavailable Information ......................................................................... 9 1.5 EA Scoping Process ......................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Draft EA Comments ....................................................................................................... 10 2 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................. 17 2.1 Overview of Alternatives ............................................................................................... 17 2.2 Alternative 1: No Action ............................................................................................... 17 2.3 Alternative 2: Preferred Alternative .............................................................................. 18 2.4 Alternative 3 ................................................................................................................... 21 2.5 Development of Alternatives ......................................................................................... 22 2.6 Alternatives Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail ..................................................... 25 2.7 Summary of Environmental Consequences ................................................................... 27 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ............................ 28 3.1 Unaffected Resources and Impact Categories ................................................................ 29 3.2 Urban and Non-Urban Environments ............................................................................ 30 3.3 Noise............................................................................................................................... 31 i Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Final Environmental Assessment 3.4 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................... 59 3.5 Cumulative Impacts ........................................................................................................ 62 4 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION .................................................................................... 69 4.1 49 U.S.C. § 303 .............................................................................................................. 69 4.2 Endangered Species Act ................................................................................................. 69 5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... 71 6 LIST OF PREPARERS ...................................................................................................................... 75 APPENDIX A – Noise Technical Information ........................................................................................... 76 APPENDIX B – Estimated Aggregate Annual Vehicle Operation (million hours/year) ............................ 80 APPENDIX C – Aggregate Annual Forecast LDV Operation by Sound (millions hours/year) ................ 84 APPENDIX D – Estimated Aggregate Annual Vehicle Operation by Speed (million hours/year) Associated With the Cumulative Impacts of the MY 2017-2025 CAFE Action ........................................ 86 APPENDIX E – Cumulative Impacts of Action Alternatives versus No Action Alternative Aggregate Annual Post-2016 EV/HV Operation by Sound (million hours/year) ........................................................ 88 APPENDIX F – Detailed Noise Modeling Results for a Receiver Near Roadway .................................... 90 APPENDIX G – Public Comments .......................................................................................................... 118 ii Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Final Environmental Assessment LIST OF TABLES Table ES-1: Comparison of Alternatives Considered in This EA ................................................ xii Table 1.1: Kilometers Per Hour to Miles Per Hour Conversion Chart ........................................... 8 Table 2.1: Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) Minimum Sound Pressure Levels (in A- Weighted Decibels) for Detection (Four-Band Specification) ..................................................... 19 Table 2.2: Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) Minimum Sound Pressure Levels (in A- Weighted Decibels) for Detection (Two-Band Specification) ...................................................... 20 Table 2.3: Overall Anticipated SPLs (in A-Weighted Decibels) Measured According to SAE J2889-1 .......................................................................................................................................... 20 Table 2.4: Alternative 3 Minimum Sound Pressure Levels (in A-Weighted Decibels) for Detection ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Table 2.5: Comparison of Alternatives Considered in This EA ................................................... 25 Table 2.6: Summary of Environmental Consequences ................................................................. 27 Table 3.1: Summary of Noise Levels That Protect Public Health and Welfare With an Adequate Margin of Safety ........................................................................................................................... 33 Table 3.2: Scenarios Analyzed Using the Added Sound Saturation Traffic Flow Model for a Receiver Near a Roadway ............................................................................................................. 38 Table 3.3: Sound Level Differences Between the Action Alternatives and the No Action Alternative as Experienced by a Listener 7.5 Meters From the Roadway .................................... 39 Table 3.4: Sound Level Differences Between the Alternatives and a Scenario With Zero EVs/HVs as Experienced by a Listener 7.5 Meters From the Roadway ...................................... 40 Table 3.5: Sound Level Differences in dB(A) for the Single-Car Pass-by of a EV/HV With or Without the Minimum Sound Requirement .................................................................................. 43 Table 3.6: Share of Annual New EV/HV Registrations by Metro Area ....................................... 50 Table 3.7: Share of NHTS VMT by Average Trip Speed ............................................................ 52 Table 3.8: Average Speed (km/h) and Percent of Vehicle Test Time by Speed for NYC, City, and Highway Drive Cycles .................................................................................................................. 53 Table 3.9: Annual National Sound Level Impacts of Action Alternatives in 2035 ...................... 57 iii Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Final Environmental Assessment Table 3.10: Noise Sensitivities of Various Groups of Wildlife .................................................... 61 Table 3.11: Annual National Sound Level Impacts of Action Alternatives in 2035 (Taking into Account One Feasible Compliance Scenario for the MY 2017-2025 CAFE Action) .................. 68 iv Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Final Environmental Assessment LIST OF FIGURES Figure ES–1: Schematic of Noise Analyses Performed for This EA .......................................... xiv Figure 3-1: Schematic of Noise Analyses Performed for This EA ............................................... 28 Figure 3-2: Outdoor Average Sound Levels at Various Locations ............................................... 32 Figure 3-3: Schematic Representation