SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesIn general, it takes a doubling of noise source activity to create a 3-dBA increase in noise levels. Thismeans that it takes a doubling of traffic volume to produce a 3-dBA change in resulting traffic noiselevels. A 3-dBA noise level increase represents a 23 percent increase in perceived loudness. A 10-dBA noise level increase represents a doubling of perceived loudness. The procedures used formilitary convoy travel would prevent convoy traffic from substantially increasing traffic volumes onpublic roadways. Therefore, there would be no significant change in traffic noise levels along publicroads.Noise levels along on-post roadways and along military vehicle trails would increase. However,overall traffic volumes and vehicle speeds generally are low for these types of roadways. As a result,noise increments attributable to vehicle traffic would remain within the Army's land use compatibilityguidelines.Traffic on military vehicle trails between SBMR and other installations would increase noise levelsalong the trail corridors during the periods of vehicle travel. Up to 56 vehicles might travel at onetime between SBMR and DMR, and up to 173 vehicles might travel at one time between SBMR andKTA. If the maximum number of vehicles departed within a single hour, the resulting hourly averagenoise level along a one-lane military vehicle trail such as Helemano Trail would be about 72 dBA at adistance of 50 feet from the trail, and less than 60 dBA at a distance of 400 feet. Because there are nonoise-sensitive land uses immediately adjacent to Helemano Trail, these noise levels would constitutea less than significant impact. The smaller size of vehicle convoys to DMR would result in lowernoise levels along the Dillingham Trail than along the Helemano Trail.Military vehicle maneuvers would occur along unpaved roads and in various off-road areas at SBMRand SBER. Peak pass-by noise levels would drop by 15 dBA at a distance of 500 feet from the travelpath. Vehicle maneuvers would occur during both daytime and nighttime hours, making vehiclemaneuver activity noise an issue of concern where residential land uses and school sites are close toSBER boundaries.Because vehicle speeds are low during most maneuver activities and vehicles tend to be relativelydispersed during off-road maneuvers, maneuver activities would be expected to produce hourlyaverage noise levels of less than 55 dBA at a distance of about 500 feet, with brief peaks of 65 to 70dBA. Such noise levels would not cause significant noise effects at off-post noise-sensitive land usesduring daytime hours. These noise levels would be more disturbing during nighttime hours. TheArmy has established a 1,000-foot noise buffer along those portions of SBER that border residentialareas of Wahiawa. As long as nighttime vehicle maneuver activity is minimized in this buffer area,vehicle noise from training and maneuver activities would be less than significant.Most military vehicle travel to and from DMR would occur on Dillingham Trail. In addition, vehiclemaneuver training would occur at DMR. During an individual training activity at DMR, fewer than75 vehicles are operating at any one time. Generally, fewer than 60 vehicles would travel in a convoyto DMR on the Dillingham Trail per hour. Resulting hourly average traffic noise levels alongDillingham Trail would be about 65 dBA at a distance of 100 feet from the vehicle trail. Vehicleactivity within DMR would produce comparably low noise levels. Consequently, noise from militaryvehicle use at DMR would constitute a less than significant impact.Most military vehicle travel to and from KTA and KLOA would occur on the Helemano Trail andDrum Road. In addition, vehicle maneuver activity would occur at KTA. During an individualtraining activity at KTA and KLOA, up to 241 vehicles are expected to be operating at any one time,with up to 216 vehicles using Helemano Trail and Drum Road to reach KTA. For the maximumnumber of vehicles, resulting hourly average traffic noise levels along Helemano Trail and DrumFebruary 2008 5-63 2/25th SBCT Final EIS