05-29-2003 Bayport Expansion Review Committee Meeting

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. . -. . e e "designed to evaluate a worst-case condition." For example, the source sound level used for operations at the container terminal was the worst case hourly level among all measurements taken by the USACE at the existing Barbours Cut Terminal. Additionally, the model assumes full build-out with all seven berths operating during a 24-hour period. This scenario, which cannot possibly occur for many years, will never occur for more than a small fraction of the time the terminal operates. Consistent with its policy to be a good neighbor, the PHA will continue to work with surrounding areas to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses. The FEIS concludes that only short-term, less than significant noise impacts would occur as a result of construction activities at Bayport. The FEIS demonstrates that no significant noise impacts would occur from vehicular traffic at Bayport or from traffic coming to or from the proposed location. Bayport will not violate any noise regulations. If-the Bayport Terminal was not built, similar noise levels would likely occur at the site anyway due to future industrial growth. According to theFEIS, "Under the No Action Alternative, increases in industrial development are projected at several of the terminal l~cation alternatives, including the Bayport area. It is expected that ambient noise levels in the Bayport area and at the Cedar Point and Pelican Island locations would increase commensurate with this projected industrial growth." The PHA is committed to building a 20-foot-high barrier to reduce noise from both construction and operation of the Bayport Terminal. According to the FEIS, "(t)here are no ground-borne vibration impacts as a result of construction, vehicular traffic, rail, or terminal operations under the Bayport terminal location " Despite the fact that the modeling over-predicted noise impacts, the PHA has committed to the following mitigation measures to further protect the area: Construction Construction equipment that has the lowest possible noise emissions and acoustic height necessary to perform the job will be selected if feasible. All equipment will be in good repair and fitted with "manufacturer recommended" mufflers. All equipment maintenance and lay-down areas will be located as far from the development area as possible. The PHA will use tangent pier construction techniques for 5/19/2003 Page 7 of9