2003-06-23 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e 'Ow e Page 3 o It is our understanding that the modeling does not include vessel emission for both trips to and from port and while vessels are in port (and currently not subject to state and federal regulations). o Emissions from railroad activity is not included (and currently not subject to state regulations). o The U.S. Environment~1 Protection Agency has adopted a National Ambient Air Ouality Standard (NMOS) for PM2.s, including both a 24-hour standard (65 micrograms per cubic meter) and an annual standard (15 micrograms per cubic meter). ' o As a res,ult of the comments'to the Bayport DEIS, the Galveston District Included an , analysis of PM2.s (fine particle) air pollution impacts that was released to the public for the first time when the Baypqrt FEIS was released on May 16, 2003. o In the Executive Summary of the Bayport FEIS, the Galveston District for the first time states that, in the year 2010, the 24-hour national ambi.ent air quality standard ("NMOS") fo~ PM2.s will be violated.., , o After years of evaluating this proposed Bayport Project, people living near this Bayport location have now been told, for the first time in the FEIS, that Federal air quality standards for this pollutant could be violated by the Bayport Project in the year 2010. o All of these concerns are amplified by the fact that the 2007 State Implementation Plan still ,falls short of needed NOx reductions. Therefore, any increase in NOx is unjustified and unreasonable.' , Noise Pollution o For nearby residences north of the channel, the FEIS predicts indoor sound levels of 66 dBA Ldn when the wind is from the southeast during the daytime and nighttime second floor sound levels would be as high as 70 dBA -Ldn for the first 2 rows of houses. o The La Porte MuniCipal Code prohibits sound levels greater than 65 dBA daytime and 58 dBA nighttime in residential areas. o The Bayport FEIS now presents a new analysis of the noise impacts of the proposed Bayport Project on adjacent neighborhoods: The new analysis reveals significant noise impacts will occur to nearby residential neighborhoods from the Bayport Project as proposed by PHA. Two of the alternate sites listed would not increase noise pollution or disturb area residents. o The Bayport FEIS state that sound levels may increase in the EI Jardin areas 'by over 5 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and in other nearby areas by over 10 dBA during the same time. o According to the USEPA, noise'increases by more than 10 dBA are potentially startling or sleep disturbing~ ' o The Bayport FEIS also concludes that residential property values will decline because of these significant noise impacts. . , o The Bayport DEIS failed to address the potential impacts to nearby residential communities due to vibrations caused by construction ar:td operation of the Bayport Project. o The Bayport FEIS now includes a new section containing a discussion and analysis of vibration impacts.