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Noise <br />Significant Adverse Impacts <br />Alternatives 1 and 2 <br />Demolition and building construction activities at the selected site could temporarily increase <br />noise levels in the vicinity of the project. While these noise impacts would occur for only two <br />years, they could be significant for nearby residences and park uses during the construction <br />phase. Noise impacts during construction are likely to be most serious for existing residences <br />and park activities near the Riverfront site in Springfield .(Alternative 1). As shown in Table 4, <br />various types of construction equipment typically produce noise levels ranging from 60 to 90 <br />decibels at a distance of 50 feet from the noise source (U.S. EPA 1971). Construction equipment <br />noise levels typically would range 20 to 30 decibels higher than ambient noise levels in the <br />vicinity of the proposed courthouse. <br />During the construction phase, GSA would implement its standard construction procedures, <br />which require that noise limits be placed on the operation of heavy equipment (Table 5). The <br />GSA general construction procedures allow the noise from some equipment to exceed the city's <br />noise limits. <br />Table 5. GSA allowable construction equipment noise levels. <br />Allowable Noise Level <br />Equipment at 50 Feet (decibels) <br />Earthmoving equipment <br />Dozer gp <br />Truck 91 <br />Paver 89 <br />Material-handling equipment <br />Concrete mixer gg <br />Concrete pump 82 <br />Crane 83 <br />~;. Derrick 88 <br />Stationary equipment <br />Generator 78 <br />Compressor g 1 <br />Miscellaneous equipment <br />~~ _ , Saw 78 <br />'! Vibrator 76 <br />Source: U.S. GSA, Guide Specifications, section 2.02, equipment <br />employed onsite. <br />Overall, temporary noise impacts would occur over the duration of excavation and construction <br />activity. Noise at the site could occasionally exceed Eugene's or Springfield's 65-decibel limit <br />during some phases of construction. In general, however, noise levels are not expected to exceed <br />allowable levels for construction noise. Likewise, decibel levels from project construction would <br />-- <br />New Federal Courthouse 95 Final EIS <br />~_ . <br />