NOISE MONITORING

REPORT 2015

PREPARED FOR:

MURRAY WASTE RECYCLING LTD.

COOLATORE

FERNS

CO. WEXFORD

WASTE LICENCE REF:

W0258-01

JANUARY 2015

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NOISE MONITORING

REPORT 2015

FOR

MURRAY WASTE RECYCLING LTD.

WASTE LICENCE REF:

W0258-01

Revision Status Of This Document

Rev. Nr.

Description of Changes Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by: Date:

0 Issue to Client PL SB MM 5/01/16

Client: Murray Waste Recycling Ltd. Keywords: Coolatore, Waste Licence Ref: W0258-01, Environmental monitoring, noise.

Abstract: This report presents a set of waste licence compliance noise monitoring results for Murray

Waste Recycling Facility, Coolatore, Ferns, Co. Wexford.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1

2 NOISE MONITORING ................................................................................................ 3

2.1 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CONDITIONS ..................................................................... 3 2.2 SURVEY IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................. 3 2.3 MEASUREMENT UNITS AND STANDARDS ............................................................................ 3 2.4 NOISE MONITORING LOCATIONS ..................................................................................... 4

3 RESULTS ................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 DAYTIME NOISE RESULTS ............................................................................................. 5

4 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................. 6

4.1 DAYTIME NOISE LEVELS ............................................................................................... 6 4.2 NIGHT-TIME NOISE LEVELS ........................................................................................... 6 4.3 TONAL & IMPULSIVE COMPLIANCE ................................................................................... 6

4.3.1 Tonal Compliance ............................................................................................. 6

5 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................... 7

LIST OF FIGURES

PAGE

FIGURE 1.1 MONITORING LOCATIONS ..................................................................................... 2

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1 INTRODUCTION Enviroglan Ltd was commissioned by Murray Waste Recycling Ltd to conduct an annual noise monitoring survey to determine compliance with the noise monitoring requirements of the site as outlined in the waste licence. This report presents the noise monitoring results for 2015. Noise monitoring was conducted on 30th November 2015 in accordance with Condition 6.15, Schedule B.4 and Schedule C.5 of the waste licence.

The noise monitoring survey was conducted according to ISO 1996-2 2007 Acoustics – Description, Measurement and Assessment of Environmental Noise Parts 1-3 and with reference to the 2012 EPA publication, “Guidance Note for Noise: Licence Applications, Surveys and Assessments in Relation to Scheduled Activities (NG4) during periods when normal site activities were occurring during both the daytime and night time periods.

Table C.2 identifies monitoring locations, namely NS1 and NS2 reproduced as Table 1.1 of this report. The locations of these monitoring locations are presented in Figure 1.1. Table 1.2 presents the noise emission limits for N1 and N2.

Table 1.1: Noise Monitoring Locations

Monitoring

Location Description

Grid Co-Ordinates

NS1 South Eastern boundary of the

facility 304153 148680

NS2 North western boundary of the facility

303882 148589

Table 1.2: Noise Emission Limits

Daytime dB(A) LAeq

(30 MINUTES)

Night-time dB(A) LAEQ

(30 MINUTES)

55 45

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Figure 1.1 Monitoring Locations

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2 NOISE MONITORING

2.1 Equipment and Measurement Conditions Noise monitoring was conducted on the 30th November 201 between 09:00 and 13:00.

The noise survey was carried out using a Bruel and Kjaer 2260 Type 1 Sound Level Meter (SLM). The instrument was calibrated prior to commencing the survey using the recommended calibration procedure and a known pure tone noise source. The unit was again calibrated on completion of the survey to record drift during the course of the day. Drift is normally associated with battery fade and temperature. The unit had not drifted.

Monitoring at each location was for 30-minute duration. All measurements were taken in accordance with ISO 1996 (Description and Measurement of Environmental Noise).

Good measurements require calm conditions to avoid spurious effects on the microphone, particularly at low frequencies. An average wind speed of less than 5 m/s is the preferred limit when noise measurements are being taken, with 7 m/s an upper limit.

During the monitoring event, weather conditions were dry and wind speed was less than 4 m/sec.

2.2 Survey Implementation

The free-field noise measurements were carried out when all site activities were occurring normally. In

accordance with the requirements of NG4, noise monitoring at each location (NS1-NS2) was carried out as follows: Daytime Monitoring (07:00hrs – 19:00hrs)

3 x 30-minute sampling periods at each Receptor (2 No) = 3 hours total sampling period

2.3 Measurement Units and Standards

The use of the dB(A) (A-weighted decibel) as the basic unit for general environmental and traffic noise is widely accepted and it has been demonstrated that noise levels in dB(A) from a wide range of sources adequately represent loudness. In order to understand the terms used below, some definitions of the terms used are outlined as follows: LAF10 Refers to those noise levels in the top 10 percentile of the sampling interval; it is the level which

is exceeded for 10% of the measurement period. It is used to determine the intermittent high noise level features of locally generated noise and usually gives an indicator of the level of traffic

noise. LAF90 Refers to those noise levels in the lower 90 percentile of the sampling interval; it is the level,

which is exceeded for 90% of the measurement period. It will therefore exclude the intermittent features of traffic noise and is used to estimate a background noise level.

LAeq The average level recorded over the sampling period. The closer the LAeq value is to either the

LAF10 or LAF90 value indicates the relative impact of the intermittent sources and their contribution. The relative spread between the values determines the impact of traffic noise on the background noise.

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2.4 Noise Monitoring Locations Monitoring was conducted at two locations as stated in the licence. Noise monitoring locations are shown on Figure 1.1. N1 is located to the eastern boundary of the facility. It is just inside the site boundary and adjacent to the road from Ferns to Milltown. It has a direct line of sight to the facility entrance and the

administration building. The recovery facility at the site can be clearly seen from this location. The dominant noises noted at this location were traffic, including agricultural machinery, passing on the road, wind in the trees, and intermittent birdsong. N2 is located at the western boundary of the site. It is adjacent to the stream running through the site. It has a direct line of sight to the recovery facility yard and shed. The dominant noises noted were from

reversing sirens on site, unloading of material from skips, clamping of metal, engine sounds and trucks

beeping. Intermittent bird song was also audible.

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3 RESULTS

3.1 Daytime Noise Results Results of the noise monitoring conducted on 30th November 2015 are summarised in Table 3.1. The

recorded LAeq, LAF10 and LAF90 values are provided for each location. A graphical presentation of the noise results is illustrated in Appendix I.

Table 3.1 Daytime Noise Monitoring Survey Results

Monitoring Location

Time

LAeq, 30min LA90, 30min LA10, 30min LAFmin LAFmax Tonal

dB(A) dB(A) dB(A) dB(A) dB(A) Component

N1 Day

09:00-09:30 45.6 33.4 46.7 29.3 68.5 No

09:30-10:00 52.2 35.6 53.5 29.9 66.2 No

10:30-11:00 50.3 36.5 51.2 30.4 62.8 No

N2 Day

11:15-11:45 50.2 38.9 52.5 32.3 56.7 No

11:45-12:15 45.6 31.2 46.8 28.7 57.8 No

12:15-12:45 44.6 30.7 46.1 30.6 61.5 No

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4 DISCUSSION

4.1 Daytime Noise Levels Results from location N1and N2 show compliance with the daytime noise emission limit of 55 dB(A) LAeq (30 minutes) for both monitoring events.

4.2 Night-time Noise Levels

The waste licence stipulates that night-time noise limits must not exceed 45 dB(A) LAeq (30 minutes). The facility is closed at night. Consequently this licensed noise limit does not apply.

4.3 Tonal & Impulsive Compliance

4.3.1 Tonal Compliance

According to ISO 1996-2: 1987 Description and measurement of environmental noise — Part 2: Guide to the acquisition of data pertinent to land use, a prominent tonal component may be detected in one-third octave spectra if the level of a one-third octave band exceeds the level of the adjacent bands by 5 dB or

more.

No audible tonal components were identified at either of the monitoring locations N1 or N2 during the monitoring event in November 2015 as can be seen in Appendix I.

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5 CONCLUSIONS Both noise monitoring points are in compliance with the daytime noise emission limit of 55 dB(A) LAeq (30 minutes). The site is closed during night-time hours therefore there are no noise emissions during this

period. It is recommended that noise monitoring continue to be conducted in accordance with the waste licence for 2016.

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APPENDIX I

1/3 OCTAVE SPECTRUM NOISE DATA

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One third octave band spectrum at monitoring location, N1

One third band octave spectrum at monitoring location, N2

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