Draft Noise Existing Conditions Report

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Stoney Creek Regional Facility Environmental Assessment

Draft Noise Existing Conditions Report

1195 Stellar Drive, Unit #1 Newmarket Ontario L3Y 7B8 Canada 11102771 | Report No 21 | December 7

Table of Contents 1. 

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 

2. 

Study Areas ......................................................................................................................................... 1 

3. 

Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 4 

4. 

Characterization of the Existing Environment ..................................................................................... 4 

5. 

4.1 

Background Noise Study Results ............................................................................................. 5 

4.2 

Semi-Annual Noise Monitoring Survey ..................................................................................... 6 

4.3 

MOECC Technical Guidelines and Standards .......................................................................... 8 

4.4 

Complaints ................................................................................................................................ 8 

References .......................................................................................................................................... 9 

Figure Index Figure 2.1 

Noise Study Areas .................................................................................................................... 3 

Figure 4.1 

Noise Receptor Assessment .................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 4.2 

Noise Measurement Receptors – Aerial Overview................................................................... 7 

Table Index Table 4.1 

Complaint Records ................................................................................................................... 9 

DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION GHD | Report for Terrapure Environmental – DRAFT Noise Existing Conditions Report | 11102771 (21) | i

1.

Introduction This report provides an overview of the existing environmental noise conditions associated with the Study Area for the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Stoney Creek Regional Facility (SCRF; Facility). The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (Minister) approved Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EA that included a preliminary description of the existing environmental conditions. The ToR made a commitment that the description of the existing conditions would be expanded during the EA1. Terrapure Environmental (Terrapure), owner and operator of the SCRF, initiated this Individual Environmental Assessment seeking to increase the total approved capacity for post diversion- solid, non-hazardous industrial residual material at the SCRF by 3,680,000 cubic metres (m3), so that Terrapure can continue to operate its business and receive this material in support of local industry. The proposal would not change the type or annual volume of residual materials currently accepted at the facility, nor the maximum number of vehicles to the site per day. Terrapure's SCRF has been an important part of the local community since it was approved by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) in 1996. The existing SCRF is only permitted to accept solid, non-hazardous waste from industrial, commercial, and institutional sources. These are truly "end of life" materials that have exhausted all recycling options. Putrescible waste (i.e., municipal solid waste, organic material) disposal is not permitted at the SCRF. The total approved capacity under the Environmental Protection Act approvals at the existing SCRF is 6,320,000 m3 with an approved maximum annual acceptance of 750,000 tonnes of solid, non-hazardous residual waste. The EA Act requires that proponents describe the environment that may potentially be affected or may reasonably be expected to be affected, directly or indirectly, by the alternatives and the undertaking proposed as part of an EA. This report focusses on characterizing the existing conditions in the vicinity of the Facility, from a noise perspective.

2.

Study Areas From a Noise environment perspective, the characterization of existing conditions within the following Study Areas, are appropriate to this EA:

1.



Site Study Area, including all lands (41.5 ha (102.5 acres)) within the existing, approved boundaries of the SCRF, as defined by Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) No. A181008, dated May 16, 2016, as amended. The site retains an additional 18 ha for industrial fill area, as well as an additional 15 ha (approx.) of buffer zone; and



Local Study Area, including all lands within a 1.5 kilometer (km) radius of the Site Study Area boundaries.

A more detailed description of the environment will be provided during preparation of the SCRF EA reflecting the final Study Area using available existing information sources and investigative studies. (Approved ToR, Section 6.2.6) DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION GHD | Report for Terrapure Environmental – DRAFT Noise Existing Conditions Report | 11102771 (21) | 1

The Study Area for the noise discipline was defined by the area extending 1.5 km from the existing SCRF property boundary. The MOECC Noise Screening Process Questionnaire requires that industries with significant potential environmental noise profiles or equipment evaluate the off-site environmental noise impact within 1 km from the site; the noise impact beyond 1 km is expected to be environmentally insignificant. Maximum sound level impacts will occur close to the property line and within a 500 m radius, which is representative of a more detailed and worst-case scenario assessment, however all receivers within the 1.5 km Study Area were considered for evaluation. The rationale for the Local Study Area for the noise discipline is that the off-site environmental noise impact from the existing Facility, or the development of the proposed alternatives to provide additional capacity, will be defined by the sound power generated by the equipment and activities on-site and the proximity and line-of-sight noise exposure to the off-site receiver locations which are the subjects of this analysis. In the absence of other developments and intervening built structures, such as businesses or institutions, the rural residential dwellings within the Local Study Area represent the receiver locations which are the subject of the assessment. The nearest existing residential dwelling is approximately 110 m northeast of the existing property boundary. The nearest residential dwelling currently under construction is approximately 35 m north of the existing property boundary, approximately 55 m from site infrastructure (i.e., surface water ponds), near the intersection of Green Mountain Road West and First Road West. There are approximately 3,000 existing residential dwellings within the Local Study Area with the largest concentrations to the south and southwest of the site along Mud Street. An additional subdivision is being constructed to the north. The Noise Study Areas are illustrated in Figure 2.1, below.

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Figure 2.1 Noise Study Areas

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3.

Methodology Available secondary sources of information were collected and reviewed to characterize Noise existing conditions within the Study Areas. The following sources of secondary information were collected and reviewed: 

Review of historic complaints



Review of current zoning plans, definitions and land use designations



Aerial photographic mapping and field reconnaissance to confirm off-site receptors



Landfill design and operation data and associated topography



Rotek Environmental Inc. Semi-Annual Noise Report – June 2016 – historic ambient monitoring data and road traffic modelling used to determine the existing acoustical conditions for the area



AECOM Acoustic Assessment Report – June 2013



Applicable MOECC guidelines and technical standards (i.e., Noise guidelines for landfill sites, Oct 1998, NPC-103, NPC104, NPC-207 and NPC-300)

The environmentally significant noise sources or activities occurring on-site and the subjects of this analysis include: 

1 x Water Truck



2 x Bulldozers



2 x Excavators



1 x Sweeper Truck



1 x Idling Trucks at Weigh Station



1 x Clean Fill Haul Route Trucks



1 x Waste Fill Haul Route Trucks

These noise sources generate continuous steady state mechanical noise. There are no ground-borne vibration sources at the Facility as defined in MOECC Noise Pollution Control publication (NPC-207).

4.

Characterization of the Existing Environment The Terrapure SCRF currently conforms to the City of Stoney Creek Zoning By-law No. 3692-92 under Section 9.8.5 'Special Exemptions', as ME-1. In addition to permitted uses under the Extractive Industrial "ME" Zone, lands zoned ME-1 are permitted for operations associated with non-hazardous waste from industrial, commercial, and institutional sources (City of Hamilton, 2015(a)). The supporting information for the existing zoning and allowed uses has been referenced from GHD’s Land Use and Social Environment Existing Conditions Report. The surrounding area is made up of community park, open space, low density, high density, institutional and general commercial. The Facility is currently operating under ECA No. A181008. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION GHD | Report for Terrapure Environmental – DRAFT Noise Existing Conditions Report | 11102771 (21) | 4

The Facility is located approximately 6 km southwest of Stoney Creek and 13 km southeast of Hamilton. The closest residential building is approximately 120 m from the Site and there are no other major industrial sources within the Study Area as indicated in Figure 2.1. The SCRF is a fully integrated facility that operates leachate processing equipment, storm water pond, retention pond and other small on-site equipment to move waste. The Facility is currently operating under an ECA that limits the Site to a maximum of 750,000 tonnes of waste per year, and a maximum of 250 vehicles entering the site per day. It should be noted that the maximum vehicles per day is much lower, with an average of 70-80 trucks per day. There are four roads located within the Study Area including: 1.

First Road West is a two-lane urban road with minimal local traffic only.

2.

Mud Street West is a four-lane road with dominant local traffic.

3.

Upper Centennial Parkway is a major four-lane road with significant 24-hour road traffic and is a major throughway for the City of Hamilton.

4.

Green Mountain Road West is a two-lane urban road with minimal local traffic only.

Green Mountain Road West and First Road West experience low traffic volumes as confirmed by the past traffic studies, as well as through the recent traffic survey undertaken by GHD on May 24, 2016 (further details provided in the Traffic Existing Conditions Report). Mud Street West and Upper Centennial Parkway traffic volumes are elevated during the morning and evening rush hour period as confirmed by previous traffic studies.

4.1

Background Noise Study Results

Adjacent road traffic travelling along the Mud Street West and Upper Centennial Parkway arterial roads are the predominant 24-hour ambient noise sources. The historical background noise studies indicated that the ambient one-hour leq sound levels during the daytime periods ranged from 63 dBA to 67 dBA. Nighttime levels were not documented, as the SCRF does not operate at night.

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4.2

Semi-Annual Noise Monitoring Survey

A semi-annual noise monitoring survey was completed during 2016 to measure noise levels at the nearest receptors around the SCRF. In addition, road traffic noise modeling was completed. The survey results are documented in the Figure 4.1:

Figure 4.1 Noise Receptor Assessment The annual noise monitoring report documented measured noise levels at the receivers around the SCRF (NR1-NR3) which included heavy contributions from adjacent road traffic. The existing Facility operations are predicted to be well below the predicted traffic impact. Figure 4.2 details the locations of the sensitive receptors around the Facility that were the subjects of the previous Acoustic Assessment Reports and the Annual Noise Monitoring Survey for the SCRF. Sensitive receiver NR4 has been added to evaluate the proposed residential development to the North West along Green Mountain Road. The receivers are adjacent to major arterial roads that surround the Facility and have no blocked line-of-sight to roadways or landfill operations. The maximum sound level impacts will occur close to the property line and within a 500 m radius, which is representative of a more detailed and worst-case scenario assessment, however all receivers within the larger 1.5 km Study Area were considered for evaluation.

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Figure 4.2 Noise Measurement Receptors – Aerial Overview

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4.3

MOECC Technical Guidelines and Standards

On-site operations at the SCRF are compared directly against a daytime one-hour leq sound level limit of 55 dBA for landfill operations that are limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. under the "Noise Guidelines for Landfill Sites" (N-1). The acoustic character of the Study Area will be defined in accordance with the MOECC guidelines NPC-300 "Environmental Noise Guideline, Stationary and Transportation Sources – Approval and Planning," October 2013. As stated in the guideline: A "Class 1 Area" means an area with an acoustical environment typical of a major population centre, where the background noise is dominated by the urban hum. "Class 2 Area" means an area with an acoustical environment that has qualities representative of both Class 1 and Class 3 Areas, and in which a low ambient sound level, normally occurring only between 23:00 and 07:00 hours in Class 1 Areas, will typically be realized as early as 19:00 hours. Other characteristics which may indicate the presence of a Class 2 Area include: 

Absence of urban hum between 19:00 and 23:00 hours.



Evening background sound level defined by natural environment and infrequent human activity.



No clearly audible sound from stationary sources other than from those under impact assessment.

"Class 3 Area" means a rural area with an acoustical environment that is dominated by natural sounds having little or no road traffic, such as the following: 

A small community with less than 1000 population.



Agricultural area.



A rural recreational area, such as a cottage or a resort area.



A wilderness area.

The Study Area is surrounded by urban land uses and is considered to be an urban Acoustic Class 1 Area.

4.4

Complaints

The Facility maintains a record of all environmental complaints received at the SCRF and has put in place the following standard procedures for responding to complaints: 

All complaints received will be assigned a control number and recorded electronically.



Details of the complaint are forwarded to Terrapure Management for follow-up.



Terrapure Management will send a confirmation letter to the complainant within 10 days of receiving the details.

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

Terrapure Management will ensure that the complaint is investigated and resolved in a timely manner.



Terrapure Management will be advised of the result of the investigation.



Terrapure Management will forward a letter or report to the complainant detailing the results of the investigation.



Terrapure Management will notify the Community Liaison Committee (CLC) via email of the complaint immediately after the investigation has been completed.



Complaints will be summarized for inclusion in the Annual Report.

A review of the complaint records from the past three years indicates that out of the 31 complaints, zero were related to noise perceived from the Facility. Table 4.1 Complaint Records Year

Total Complaints

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

4 20 7 3 9

Complaints for Noise 0 0 0 0 0

Complaints for Odour 2 20 6 3 9

Complaints for Dust 0 0 1 0 0

Other 2 0 0 0 0

Concerned residents or businesses can call the Facility directly, the City of Hamilton, or the MOECC if a nuisance effect is perceived to have occurred because of the Facility. All complaints are recorded and investigated in accordance with the Facility standard complaint procedures and templates. Each complaint is logged and, in many cases, Site staff will go to the location where the nuisance was recorded and conduct on-site investigations. The date and time of the complaint are cross-referenced with data from the Facility in order to determine if any adjustments to operations need to be made at the Site. Each complaint received at the Facility is reported to the MOECC.

5.

References AECOM Acoustic Assessment Report – June 2013. Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Publication NPC-300: "Stationary and Transportation Sources –Approval and Planning". August 2013. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Model Municipal Noise Control By-Law Publication NPC-103. Queens Printer for Ontario. August 1978. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Model Municipal Noise Control By-Law Publication NPC-104. Queens Printer for Ontario. August 1978. Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch. Basic Comprehensive Certificates of Approval (Air) User Guide Version 2.0. Ontario Ministry of the Environment. April 2004. Rotek Environmental Inc. Semi-Annual Noise Report. June 2016.

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