Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Noise
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Figure 77 depicts links between the proposed action and noise outcomes.
Figure 77. Links between the project and noise outcomes
Noise would be generated in the proposed action from construction activities, traffic, and possibly
mining operations. Noise can have a negative impact on human health and well-being particularly
if it interferes with sleep. Hearing damage, annoyance, sleep disturbance, impaired
communication, reduced school performance, and poor cardiovascular health have all been linked
to exposure to high levels of noise in a community setting (WHO, 1999; 2011).
It is generally agreed that environmental noise ranging from 40 to 55 decibels, A-weighting
(dBA) is likely to lead to annoyance in a portion of a population (London Health Commission,
2003); levels that range between 40 and 60 dBA may interfere with sleep; and levels above this
range (i.e., 65 to 70 dBA) may decrease school performance and increase ischemic heart disease.
In general, intermittent, higher frequency, short duration, intense sounds have greater impacts on
health than do continuous low-frequency, long-duration, low-intensity sounds (London Health
Commission, 2003).
In terms of project-related noise from fixed sources (e.g., drilling, building of surface facilities),
there is likely to be little to no noise generated that would cause human health effects. As stated
in the “Affected Environment” section, there are no existing residences in the vicinity. The closest
town—Grants—is approximately 18 miles from the proposed site while the village of San Mateo
is about 3 miles away. There are also very few roadways or trails in the area. Noise studies are not
being conducted for the Roca Honda Mine project so there is no estimate of baseline noise levels
or projected project activity-related noise levels on local receptors. However, the remoteness of
the proposed project site means that human receptors are not likely to experience noise above the
40–55 dBA range.
Noise would also be generated through project-related traffic. Large trucks would travel along
local roadways during construction, operation, and decommissioning. It is possible that some
residents who reside along the transportation routes would become annoyed with increased noise
levels due to truck traffic. Loss of sleep from nighttime truck travel is a particular impact of
concern. Sleep disturbance and annoyance are the first impacts of nighttime noise and can be
detrimental to mental health (WHO, 2009). Sleep disturbance may affect people’s ability to cope
with normal stresses in life and work productively. Annoyance can affect people’s perceived
levels of happiness and increase stress, which negatively affects mental well-being and has other
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 407