This document provides an environmental impact analysis of a proposed redevelopment project at Mount Yamashiro regarding water/wastewater and noise impacts. It finds that the project would increase impervious surfaces and stormwater runoff but implement best management practices to prevent water quality impacts. Wastewater generation during construction and operation would not exceed treatment plant capacity. Noise impacts during construction and from increased visitors are also assessed. Mitigation measures are proposed, such as low-flow fixtures and sewer line upgrades, to reduce impacts to less than significant levels.
The first phase of the Northern Collector Water Tunnel project is located along the eastern fringes of the Aberdare Conservation area approximately 60 kilometer north of Nairobi county.
The works are located in Kangema and Kigumo sub counties of Murang'a county
The Black Creek Sanitary Drainage Area Servicing Improvements Environmental Assessment Study aims to address capacity issues in the Black Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer system to service projected population growth, reduce surcharging during wet weather, reduce inflow/infiltration, and reduce combined sewer overflows. Potential solutions being considered include new relief trunk sewers, combined sewer overflow storage tanks, flow diversion, and maintenance hole adjustments. The study will evaluate alternatives and select a preferred solution to address the identified problems while minimizing impacts on the natural, social, and technical criteria.
The document provides information on the proposed Clinton River Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Key details include:
- The plant will be located in Madison Heights, Michigan and treat 50 million gallons per day of wastewater from Oakland County.
- Engineering services will be provided for construction, environmental, structural, water resources, and transportation aspects.
- The treatment process will include primary settling, aeration tanks, secondary settling, and tertiary treatment before discharge.
- Structural designs and analyses were presented for the administration/education building and tertiary treatment facility.
- A cost estimate of $200 million was provided along with a project schedule through completion in 2015.
The document summarizes LCRA's plans to expand water supplies in central Texas to meet growing demands through 2070. It discusses developing groundwater resources, building the Lane City Reservoir downstream on the Colorado River, and other projects. The 40,000 acre-foot Lane City Reservoir would capture additional runoff and increase system efficiency, with an annual firm yield of 90,000 acre-feet. It requires various permits and has engineering controls like cutoff walls. LCRA is also building the smaller Prairie Conservation Reservoir to enhance irrigation operations in the Lakeside Division.
This document discusses environmental flows in Texas. It provides a historical overview and outlines the paradigm shift that occurred with the passage of Senate Bill 1 in 1997, Senate Bill 2 in 2001, and Senate Bill 3 in 2007. These bills required the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adopt rules related to environmental flows and establish standards and procedures. The document then summarizes key aspects of the administrative code related to environmental flows, components of instream and estuarine freshwater inflow regimes, required work plans, funding and priority projects from 2014-2015 and 2016-2017, and implementation requirements regarding permit adjustments.
Presented by Vladimir Smakhtin at the Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi, India, November 4, 2014.
The flows of India’s rivers are increasingly being modified by dams and weirs and abstractions for agriculture and urban use. These interventions have caused significant alteration of flow regimes mainly by reducing total flow and affecting its variability and seasonality. An Environmental Flow (EF) is the water regime provided within a river, wetland or coastal zone to maintain ecosystems and their benefits. Environmental Flows describe the quantity, quality and timing of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems. This presentation looks at how the EF approach has been tested in India and describes a project to apply EF methodology to the upper Ganga.
Dead Run Stream Restoration Existing Conditions August 18, 2015Fairfax County
This document is from the Stormwater Planning Division of Fairfax County, VA's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. It provides existing conditions information for Segments 2 and 3 of the Dead Run Stream Restoration Project, including photos and descriptions of the current state of the stream segments. The document was presented at a task force kick-off meeting on August 18, 2015 to review baseline data for the project.
This baseline study summarizes the physical, biological, and socio-economic conditions of the area surrounding a proposed road upgrading project from Chakdara to Madyan in Swat, Pakistan. Key findings include:
1) The project area has a mountainous terrain located along the Swat River valley with forests, meadows, and agricultural lands. Surface water sources include the Swat River and tributaries.
2) Socio-economically, the population relies on agriculture as the primary occupation and land use.
3) Environmentally, the area has good quality groundwater resources but is at risk for flooding based on a devastating flood in 2010. No endangered species or protected areas were identified in the
The first phase of the Northern Collector Water Tunnel project is located along the eastern fringes of the Aberdare Conservation area approximately 60 kilometer north of Nairobi county.
The works are located in Kangema and Kigumo sub counties of Murang'a county
The Black Creek Sanitary Drainage Area Servicing Improvements Environmental Assessment Study aims to address capacity issues in the Black Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer system to service projected population growth, reduce surcharging during wet weather, reduce inflow/infiltration, and reduce combined sewer overflows. Potential solutions being considered include new relief trunk sewers, combined sewer overflow storage tanks, flow diversion, and maintenance hole adjustments. The study will evaluate alternatives and select a preferred solution to address the identified problems while minimizing impacts on the natural, social, and technical criteria.
The document provides information on the proposed Clinton River Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Key details include:
- The plant will be located in Madison Heights, Michigan and treat 50 million gallons per day of wastewater from Oakland County.
- Engineering services will be provided for construction, environmental, structural, water resources, and transportation aspects.
- The treatment process will include primary settling, aeration tanks, secondary settling, and tertiary treatment before discharge.
- Structural designs and analyses were presented for the administration/education building and tertiary treatment facility.
- A cost estimate of $200 million was provided along with a project schedule through completion in 2015.
The document summarizes LCRA's plans to expand water supplies in central Texas to meet growing demands through 2070. It discusses developing groundwater resources, building the Lane City Reservoir downstream on the Colorado River, and other projects. The 40,000 acre-foot Lane City Reservoir would capture additional runoff and increase system efficiency, with an annual firm yield of 90,000 acre-feet. It requires various permits and has engineering controls like cutoff walls. LCRA is also building the smaller Prairie Conservation Reservoir to enhance irrigation operations in the Lakeside Division.
This document discusses environmental flows in Texas. It provides a historical overview and outlines the paradigm shift that occurred with the passage of Senate Bill 1 in 1997, Senate Bill 2 in 2001, and Senate Bill 3 in 2007. These bills required the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adopt rules related to environmental flows and establish standards and procedures. The document then summarizes key aspects of the administrative code related to environmental flows, components of instream and estuarine freshwater inflow regimes, required work plans, funding and priority projects from 2014-2015 and 2016-2017, and implementation requirements regarding permit adjustments.
Presented by Vladimir Smakhtin at the Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi, India, November 4, 2014.
The flows of India’s rivers are increasingly being modified by dams and weirs and abstractions for agriculture and urban use. These interventions have caused significant alteration of flow regimes mainly by reducing total flow and affecting its variability and seasonality. An Environmental Flow (EF) is the water regime provided within a river, wetland or coastal zone to maintain ecosystems and their benefits. Environmental Flows describe the quantity, quality and timing of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems. This presentation looks at how the EF approach has been tested in India and describes a project to apply EF methodology to the upper Ganga.
Dead Run Stream Restoration Existing Conditions August 18, 2015Fairfax County
This document is from the Stormwater Planning Division of Fairfax County, VA's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. It provides existing conditions information for Segments 2 and 3 of the Dead Run Stream Restoration Project, including photos and descriptions of the current state of the stream segments. The document was presented at a task force kick-off meeting on August 18, 2015 to review baseline data for the project.
This baseline study summarizes the physical, biological, and socio-economic conditions of the area surrounding a proposed road upgrading project from Chakdara to Madyan in Swat, Pakistan. Key findings include:
1) The project area has a mountainous terrain located along the Swat River valley with forests, meadows, and agricultural lands. Surface water sources include the Swat River and tributaries.
2) Socio-economically, the population relies on agriculture as the primary occupation and land use.
3) Environmentally, the area has good quality groundwater resources but is at risk for flooding based on a devastating flood in 2010. No endangered species or protected areas were identified in the
Dr. F. Robert McGregor has over 35 years of experience in water supply, wastewater treatment, infrastructure design, and watershed management. He has planned, designed, and constructed major water supply and wastewater treatment systems. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering and is a registered professional engineer in 7 states. Representative projects include water management plans for unconventional oil and gas development, produced water treatment, and municipal water systems.
This document summarizes a citizen's forum meeting regarding remediation of the Gude Landfill. Representatives from the county, concerned citizens groups, and engineering firms presented information. The county discussed the landfill history and current operations/monitoring. Groundwater monitoring has found some exceedances of EPA standards near the landfill. The concerned citizens group objectives ensuring remediation is completed before any reuse. The engineering firm discussed plans for further site characterization and risk assessment to develop remediation alternatives. The concerned citizens group discussed possible future reuse options for the landfill property.
The "Findings Statement" issued by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation that supplies the faulty thinking and irrational rationale for banning fracking in the Empire State. The ban is temporary--until a new governor and head of DEC are in place (hopefully at the next election). The Findings Statement is a pathetic attempt to paper over political motivations for a frack ban. It contains broad, sweeping and unsubstantiated by any evidence statements that denigrate the miracle of fracking. It is, in a word, pathetic.
The Harbor Brook CSO 018 Constructed Wetlands Pilot Treatment System Project serves the dual purposes of treating CSO 018 overflows currently discharged into Harbor Brook while also acting as a demonstration project to test the effectiveness of three types of constructed treatment wetland systems.
Moffett RAB: EPA Regional Groundwater and Vapor Intrusion UpdateSteve Williams
The document summarizes updates from the EPA on the regional groundwater and vapor intrusion investigation at NAS Moffett Field. It includes maps of the TCE plume in different aquifers over time and details preliminary findings from recent sampling. Next steps outlined are further delineating hotspots, installing extraction wells, finalizing reports, installing monitoring wells, and conducting modeling to evaluate capture. The document also summarizes comments from stakeholders and a remedy review board on the groundwater feasibility study, calling for more integration of groundwater and vapor intrusion remedies and evaluation of remediation technologies.
The document provides information on GreeNexus Consulting and their services related to sustainability certifications like LEED and Living Building Challenge. It also discusses various codes, standards and resources related to green building certifications, water efficiency and rainwater harvesting.
This document summarizes a study on stormwater impacts to McVicar Creek. The study aimed to: identify impacts; characterize them through a stream assessment; identify 3 representative sites; pursue further research; and develop remediation recommendations. The initial assessment identified 3 sites - Court Street, Castlegreen, and County Fair - for further study. Additional data collection and stakeholder workshops were held. The workshops developed stormwater management objectives and site-specific recommendations. For Court Street, increased enforcement and education were recommended. For Castlegreen, investigating infrastructure and partnering with local groups. For County Fair, educating landowners and considering end-of-pipe solutions were recommended. The final recommendations emphasized objectives and further stakeholder
Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Presents: 2nd Annual Delaware Rive...Kim Beidler
The Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act of 1978 (Act 167) requires counties to develop watershed plans to coordinate stormwater management across municipal boundaries, outlines 13 required plan elements, and places responsibilities on counties and municipalities to adopt and implement ordinances consistent with approved watershed plans. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission assists Lehigh and Northampton Counties in developing hydrologic models and watershed plans under Act 167, and provides review of municipal ordinances to ensure consistency with watershed plans. Act 167 plans aim to balance development and flood control through release rate criteria, while more recent plans also incorporate water quality requirements.
Dead Run Stream Restoration Stream Team Kick Off August 18, 2015Fairfax County
The document discusses a proposed stream restoration project along two segments of Dead Run in Fairfax County, VA, outlining the project limits, benefits of improving water quality and habitat, and providing an overview of the existing conditions and alternative approaches being considered to refine the restoration design while minimizing tree loss and impacts to properties. It also reviews regulatory drivers and estimated improvements to water quality and flood reduction from the project.
Presentation to AAAEA Technical conferencehbaroudi
This document summarizes case studies of wet weather flow issues from combined and separate sewer systems. It discusses common causes of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), such as infiltration of groundwater. Examples are provided of systems in Detroit, Southeast Oakland County, and Center Line that experience CSOs/SSOs and the corrective actions taken, including storage basins, separation of storm and sanitary sewers, rehabilitation, and flow monitoring. Regulatory requirements and approaches to address overflows are also summarized.
Operation of SAWS New Groundwater Desal Plant - Richard DonatTWCA
The document discusses the SAWS Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project. It outlines the water supply challenges facing San Antonio that led SAWS to pursue brackish groundwater desalination. The Phase I project involves drilling 12 production wells to draw brackish water from the Lower Wilcox Formation and treating the water through reverse osmosis to produce 12 MGD of drinking water. The document discusses various challenges faced in planning, designing, constructing, and operating the desalination facility.
T4: GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND WATER GOVERNANCETHE EGYPTIAN EXPERIENCEFAO
This document discusses groundwater management challenges in Egypt and lessons learned. It addresses issues like overuse of groundwater by agriculture leading to pollution, lack of monitoring and enforcement exacerbating unsustainability. Case studies show traditional oasis management protecting resources and more recent problems of saline intrusion addressed through brackish groundwater development and monitoring. Treated sewage reuse requires attention to groundwater impacts. Lessons emphasize integrated management, monitoring, stakeholder participation, awareness, enforcement and considering both fresh and non-fresh water resources.
The document provides an update on remediation efforts at the Gude Landfill site in Montgomery County, Maryland. It summarizes the landfill background, community engagement efforts, studies conducted to assess contamination, and the proposed corrective measure of installing a cap and additional landfill gas collection wells. It also discusses future land reuse planning and ongoing community involvement in the remediation process.
TH-F2 Dealing With Residual Contamination- ICECharles Ice
This document discusses one agency's efforts to notify relevant parties about residual soil and groundwater contamination at closed contamination sites. The agency sends quarterly letters and site lists to building and planning departments, issues notification letters at case closure when residual contamination remains, records commercial deed restrictions, and uploads documents to the Geotracker and Envirostor databases. When development is proposed near closed sites, the agency reviews plans, may require soil and groundwater management plans, and can request additional site assessments. Examples discussed include converting an industrial site with residual diesel contamination to residential use, long-term groundwater remediation at a former gas station, and ensuring elevator construction plans at a redeveloped Safeway account for a nearby contamination plume.
This document provides an overview of stormwater effects on water quality and the environment. It discusses how increased stormwater runoff can negatively impact hydrology, geomorphology, habitat and water quality through increased flows, flooding, erosion, sedimentation, loss of riparian zones and more. It also summarizes key stormwater permitting requirements including the NPDES program and Maryland's Phase I, II and local regulations. Finally, it outlines various best management practices for erosion and sediment control as well as stormwater management including better site design techniques, bioretention, ponds, wetlands, and newer technologies.
Watershed management along the Colorado River - Michael GabaldonYourAlberta
Michael is an Associate Vice-President with AECOM and a presenter at Alberta’s Watershed Management Symposium: Flood and Drought Mitigation. Using the Colorado River and recent flood events in the State of Colorado as backdrops, Michael talked about bringing diverse stakeholders together to create an effective total watershed management plan.
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Division of Solid Waste Services - Gude Landfill Remediation Project Corrective Measures Implementation - June 2017
Presentation slides from a professional development seminar on the industrial multisector general permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
This document discusses several issues related to hydraulic fracturing including water usage, fracking fluid disclosure, infrastructure concerns, wastewater discharge, groundwater protection, and other side effects like earthquakes and air pollution. It outlines recent federal actions by the EPA to regulate air emissions and require reporting. It also discusses a study by the National Academy of Sciences on fracking and earthquakes. Finally, it provides updates on state actions and regulations in places like North Carolina, Vermont, New York, Maryland, and Mississippi regarding hydraulic fracturing and related activities.
Water resources planning: Stages in water resources planning, data collection and processing, estimation of future water demands, preliminary planning, institutional set-up, public involvement, formulation and screening of alternatives, models for water resources planning, sensitivity analysis, Environmental and social considerations: Water in environment, environmental impact of water resources projects, environmental impact of reservoirs, environmental problems in command areas.
NY: A Green Infrastructure Approach - Onondaga Creek Water QualitySotirakou964
This document summarizes a report on improving water quality in Onondaga Creek through green infrastructure approaches. It provides background on combined sewer overflows polluting the creek and discusses planning efforts to reduce stormwater runoff volumes. The report selects a site for modeling green infrastructure techniques, including bioswales, curb cuts, rain gardens, blue roofs, and permeable surfaces. It analyzes costs and recommends the designed approaches as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional sewer infrastructure expansion.
Dr. F. Robert McGregor has over 35 years of experience in water supply, wastewater treatment, infrastructure design, and watershed management. He has planned, designed, and constructed major water supply and wastewater treatment systems. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering and is a registered professional engineer in 7 states. Representative projects include water management plans for unconventional oil and gas development, produced water treatment, and municipal water systems.
This document summarizes a citizen's forum meeting regarding remediation of the Gude Landfill. Representatives from the county, concerned citizens groups, and engineering firms presented information. The county discussed the landfill history and current operations/monitoring. Groundwater monitoring has found some exceedances of EPA standards near the landfill. The concerned citizens group objectives ensuring remediation is completed before any reuse. The engineering firm discussed plans for further site characterization and risk assessment to develop remediation alternatives. The concerned citizens group discussed possible future reuse options for the landfill property.
The "Findings Statement" issued by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation that supplies the faulty thinking and irrational rationale for banning fracking in the Empire State. The ban is temporary--until a new governor and head of DEC are in place (hopefully at the next election). The Findings Statement is a pathetic attempt to paper over political motivations for a frack ban. It contains broad, sweeping and unsubstantiated by any evidence statements that denigrate the miracle of fracking. It is, in a word, pathetic.
The Harbor Brook CSO 018 Constructed Wetlands Pilot Treatment System Project serves the dual purposes of treating CSO 018 overflows currently discharged into Harbor Brook while also acting as a demonstration project to test the effectiveness of three types of constructed treatment wetland systems.
Moffett RAB: EPA Regional Groundwater and Vapor Intrusion UpdateSteve Williams
The document summarizes updates from the EPA on the regional groundwater and vapor intrusion investigation at NAS Moffett Field. It includes maps of the TCE plume in different aquifers over time and details preliminary findings from recent sampling. Next steps outlined are further delineating hotspots, installing extraction wells, finalizing reports, installing monitoring wells, and conducting modeling to evaluate capture. The document also summarizes comments from stakeholders and a remedy review board on the groundwater feasibility study, calling for more integration of groundwater and vapor intrusion remedies and evaluation of remediation technologies.
The document provides information on GreeNexus Consulting and their services related to sustainability certifications like LEED and Living Building Challenge. It also discusses various codes, standards and resources related to green building certifications, water efficiency and rainwater harvesting.
This document summarizes a study on stormwater impacts to McVicar Creek. The study aimed to: identify impacts; characterize them through a stream assessment; identify 3 representative sites; pursue further research; and develop remediation recommendations. The initial assessment identified 3 sites - Court Street, Castlegreen, and County Fair - for further study. Additional data collection and stakeholder workshops were held. The workshops developed stormwater management objectives and site-specific recommendations. For Court Street, increased enforcement and education were recommended. For Castlegreen, investigating infrastructure and partnering with local groups. For County Fair, educating landowners and considering end-of-pipe solutions were recommended. The final recommendations emphasized objectives and further stakeholder
Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Presents: 2nd Annual Delaware Rive...Kim Beidler
The Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act of 1978 (Act 167) requires counties to develop watershed plans to coordinate stormwater management across municipal boundaries, outlines 13 required plan elements, and places responsibilities on counties and municipalities to adopt and implement ordinances consistent with approved watershed plans. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission assists Lehigh and Northampton Counties in developing hydrologic models and watershed plans under Act 167, and provides review of municipal ordinances to ensure consistency with watershed plans. Act 167 plans aim to balance development and flood control through release rate criteria, while more recent plans also incorporate water quality requirements.
Dead Run Stream Restoration Stream Team Kick Off August 18, 2015Fairfax County
The document discusses a proposed stream restoration project along two segments of Dead Run in Fairfax County, VA, outlining the project limits, benefits of improving water quality and habitat, and providing an overview of the existing conditions and alternative approaches being considered to refine the restoration design while minimizing tree loss and impacts to properties. It also reviews regulatory drivers and estimated improvements to water quality and flood reduction from the project.
Presentation to AAAEA Technical conferencehbaroudi
This document summarizes case studies of wet weather flow issues from combined and separate sewer systems. It discusses common causes of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), such as infiltration of groundwater. Examples are provided of systems in Detroit, Southeast Oakland County, and Center Line that experience CSOs/SSOs and the corrective actions taken, including storage basins, separation of storm and sanitary sewers, rehabilitation, and flow monitoring. Regulatory requirements and approaches to address overflows are also summarized.
Operation of SAWS New Groundwater Desal Plant - Richard DonatTWCA
The document discusses the SAWS Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project. It outlines the water supply challenges facing San Antonio that led SAWS to pursue brackish groundwater desalination. The Phase I project involves drilling 12 production wells to draw brackish water from the Lower Wilcox Formation and treating the water through reverse osmosis to produce 12 MGD of drinking water. The document discusses various challenges faced in planning, designing, constructing, and operating the desalination facility.
T4: GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND WATER GOVERNANCETHE EGYPTIAN EXPERIENCEFAO
This document discusses groundwater management challenges in Egypt and lessons learned. It addresses issues like overuse of groundwater by agriculture leading to pollution, lack of monitoring and enforcement exacerbating unsustainability. Case studies show traditional oasis management protecting resources and more recent problems of saline intrusion addressed through brackish groundwater development and monitoring. Treated sewage reuse requires attention to groundwater impacts. Lessons emphasize integrated management, monitoring, stakeholder participation, awareness, enforcement and considering both fresh and non-fresh water resources.
The document provides an update on remediation efforts at the Gude Landfill site in Montgomery County, Maryland. It summarizes the landfill background, community engagement efforts, studies conducted to assess contamination, and the proposed corrective measure of installing a cap and additional landfill gas collection wells. It also discusses future land reuse planning and ongoing community involvement in the remediation process.
TH-F2 Dealing With Residual Contamination- ICECharles Ice
This document discusses one agency's efforts to notify relevant parties about residual soil and groundwater contamination at closed contamination sites. The agency sends quarterly letters and site lists to building and planning departments, issues notification letters at case closure when residual contamination remains, records commercial deed restrictions, and uploads documents to the Geotracker and Envirostor databases. When development is proposed near closed sites, the agency reviews plans, may require soil and groundwater management plans, and can request additional site assessments. Examples discussed include converting an industrial site with residual diesel contamination to residential use, long-term groundwater remediation at a former gas station, and ensuring elevator construction plans at a redeveloped Safeway account for a nearby contamination plume.
This document provides an overview of stormwater effects on water quality and the environment. It discusses how increased stormwater runoff can negatively impact hydrology, geomorphology, habitat and water quality through increased flows, flooding, erosion, sedimentation, loss of riparian zones and more. It also summarizes key stormwater permitting requirements including the NPDES program and Maryland's Phase I, II and local regulations. Finally, it outlines various best management practices for erosion and sediment control as well as stormwater management including better site design techniques, bioretention, ponds, wetlands, and newer technologies.
Watershed management along the Colorado River - Michael GabaldonYourAlberta
Michael is an Associate Vice-President with AECOM and a presenter at Alberta’s Watershed Management Symposium: Flood and Drought Mitigation. Using the Colorado River and recent flood events in the State of Colorado as backdrops, Michael talked about bringing diverse stakeholders together to create an effective total watershed management plan.
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Division of Solid Waste Services - Gude Landfill Remediation Project Corrective Measures Implementation - June 2017
Presentation slides from a professional development seminar on the industrial multisector general permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
This document discusses several issues related to hydraulic fracturing including water usage, fracking fluid disclosure, infrastructure concerns, wastewater discharge, groundwater protection, and other side effects like earthquakes and air pollution. It outlines recent federal actions by the EPA to regulate air emissions and require reporting. It also discusses a study by the National Academy of Sciences on fracking and earthquakes. Finally, it provides updates on state actions and regulations in places like North Carolina, Vermont, New York, Maryland, and Mississippi regarding hydraulic fracturing and related activities.
Water resources planning: Stages in water resources planning, data collection and processing, estimation of future water demands, preliminary planning, institutional set-up, public involvement, formulation and screening of alternatives, models for water resources planning, sensitivity analysis, Environmental and social considerations: Water in environment, environmental impact of water resources projects, environmental impact of reservoirs, environmental problems in command areas.
NY: A Green Infrastructure Approach - Onondaga Creek Water QualitySotirakou964
This document summarizes a report on improving water quality in Onondaga Creek through green infrastructure approaches. It provides background on combined sewer overflows polluting the creek and discusses planning efforts to reduce stormwater runoff volumes. The report selects a site for modeling green infrastructure techniques, including bioswales, curb cuts, rain gardens, blue roofs, and permeable surfaces. It analyzes costs and recommends the designed approaches as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional sewer infrastructure expansion.
FACED WITH CLIMATE change and environmental degradation many cities are turning to Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) solutions to enhance climate resilience as well as restore the health of ecosystems.
Reservoir Water Supply Planning for an Uncertain FutureDave Campbell
1) Reservoir water supply planning involves projecting future water demand over a 50-year planning period, which involves significant uncertainty. Factors like population growth, climate change, and regulatory requirements are difficult to predict that far in advance.
2) Reservoir projects take 10-20 years to plan, permit, design, and construct, so planning must start well in advance of anticipated need. However, deferring planning can significantly increase costs due to escalation rates for reservoir projects that exceed general inflation rates.
3) Reservoir configurations include on-stream reservoirs supplied by their own watershed, and pumped storage reservoirs that receive diverted flows from other streams to supplement their smaller watershed yield. Operating a reservoir for downstream flow augmentation
Dead Run Segments 2/3 Stream Restoration Project Public MeetingFairfax County
This document summarizes a public meeting held on June 9, 2015 regarding a stream restoration project along Dead Run in Fairfax County, VA. The project involves restoring 800 linear feet of stream in McLean Central Park (Segment 2) and 1,500 linear feet extending to Churchill Road (Segment 3). Concerns were raised about tree loss and impacts to the park. Alternatives for reducing impacts were discussed, such as adjusting the channel size and alignments. A citizen task force was recommended to provide input on revising the design.
Practice from China: GEF Hai Basin Integrated Water and Environment Managemen...Iwl Pcu
Liping Jiang, World Bank Office China
Presentation given during the 5th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference in Cairns, Australia (during the host region project results and expectations session).
Topics:
1. Challenges in Hai Basin and Bohai Sea
2. Project Approach to Face the Challenges
3. Major Project Results or Outcomes
Water Management at Rainbow Drive: In Buildotechbiomeshubha
1) A private residential community in Bangalore called Rainbow Drive was completely dependent on groundwater from bore wells for water as it received no supply from the city water board.
2) A study conducted by the community found high water consumption by some residents, issues with the water and sewage infrastructure, and that groundwater levels were declining.
3) In response, the community implemented various water management initiatives like raising water tariffs, banning private bore wells, investing in new sewage treatment technology, and making rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge mandatory for residents.
4) These interventions successfully reduced total water demand in the community while increasing compliance with rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, helping to sustain
This document investigates co-locating a desalination plant with the Joslin Steam Electric Station in Point Comfort, Texas to provide a drought-proof water supply for regions L and N. A reverse osmosis desalination plant is proposed that would treat 180 million gallons per day of seawater to produce 90 million gallons per day of drinking water and reject hypersaline water. Reject water and solids from pretreatment would be returned through the existing plant discharge. Environmental impacts were found to be minimal. The estimated cost of the desalinated water is $1.75 per 1000 gallons. Combining this supply with 100,000 acre-feet of existing surface water supply would provide 200,000 acre-feet
Tim Broeder
Marcie Nolan
Jo Sesodia
Bob Daniels
The Sunshine State will always experience growth, whether rapid or slow. This growth will continue to drain the cheap and easy water resources of the State. This session will provide an overview of how three local governments have completely redesigned their long range planning program to incorporate potable water issues into their comprehensive and current plans. The
determination of demand, the single utility provider structure, and the costs of these infrastructure projects will be discussed. For local planners, the need and ability to implement long range plans through collaboration between the utility engineer and the planner will be stressed.
The document discusses the proposed Kochi Barrage project in India. It aims to provide water for irrigation, drinking, and industry. Key points:
1. The project would build a barrage across the Kanhan River to divert water and restore irrigation to 3960 hectares of drought-prone land.
2. An environmental impact assessment was conducted and found the project would have minimal adverse impacts with mitigation measures. It identified impacts during construction and operation and on land use, water resources, ecology, and communities.
3. An environmental management plan was developed to further minimize impacts during construction and operation through measures like dust control, noise control, waste management, and public health management.
4. The
- River pollution, urban flooding, and health risks are interconnected issues facing rapidly growing cities. As urban populations and impervious surfaces increase, water quality deteriorates due to inadequate wastewater treatment and increased runoff, while extreme rainfall events exacerbated by climate change raise flooding risks.
- Hydrologic and water quality models were developed to simulate current conditions and project impacts of population growth, climate change, and policy measures in selected cities. Results show that without action, flooding and waterborne diseases will increase substantially by 2030.
- Implementing integrated measures like expanded wastewater treatment, flood control infrastructure, and green infrastructure can significantly reduce flooding and health risks compared to do-nothing scenarios. However, non-structural
1. Stormwater management at Clemson University is currently inefficient, causing flooding even in small storms. A proposed parking lot could exacerbate this problem.
2. The document proposes designing a bioretention cell to capture and infiltrate runoff from the parking lot on site, reducing flooding downstream.
3. Multiple benefits are cited for bioretention cells, including environmental, economic, and aesthetic advantages over traditional stormwater management approaches.
Dead Run Stream Restoration Public Meeting June 9, 2015Fairfax County
This document summarizes a public meeting held on June 9, 2015 to discuss the Dead Run Segments 2/3 Stream Restoration Project in Fairfax County, VA. The project aims to restore 1,800 linear feet of Dead Run stream through McLean Central Park and Dead Run Stream Valley Park. Key topics discussed include the project timeline and extent, responses to community issues raised, next steps including forming a citizen task force, and potential design refinements to minimize tree and canopy loss while improving water quality and habitat.
IRJET - To Study the Hurdles in Designing a Water Supply System for a CityIRJET Journal
This document discusses the challenges of designing a water supply system for a city in India. It notes that water scarcity is a major issue in India, with over 600 million people facing extreme water stress. The document then summarizes the key processes involved in a water supply system, including sources of water, treatment, storage, and distribution. It identifies several difficulties that can occur at different phases of a water supply project, such as land acquisition issues in planning, traffic diversion challenges during execution, and quality control problems after completion. The study aims to further analyze how to effectively apply project management strategies to address these hurdles and improve water supply systems, using the city of Jalgaon as a case study.
This document provides details about a final project analyzing the potential reduction of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the Gowanus Canal watershed in Brooklyn through the installation of green infrastructure. It discusses how green infrastructure like bioswales, rain gardens, and green roofs can help capture stormwater runoff and reduce CSO events. The document analyzes the impact of incremental increases in green roof coverage on a city block, finding that a 25% increase would capture the first inch of rainfall and a 35% increase would reduce peak discharge by 5.86%, though the cost may not justify the benefits.
Northfield Township conducted a capacity evaluation of its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to plan for potential future growth. The WWTP currently receives an average flow of 0.7 million gallons per day (MGD) but can treat up to 1.3 MGD. Four special assessment districts within the township could add over 1,800 residential equivalent units (REU), increasing flows. Agreements also allow Green Oak Township to add over 800 REUs. Improvements like a 1.7 million gallon equalization basin are recommended to manage wet weather flows from new connections up to 1,500 additional REUs. Further expansion of WWTP capacity will be needed between 800-1,500 additional REUs.
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The document discusses implementing an integrated storm water management program for the city of Killeen. It outlines elements of the program including drainage maintenance, capital improvements, and storm water management plans. It also discusses issues driving the need for improved drainage infrastructure maintenance like citizen concerns, water quality and quantity control issues from urbanization. Potential solutions discussed include code revisions, public education, debris removal, inspections, and design/maintenance standards.
1. Sharanya Ganesh
May 2015
1
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
ENE-502
Environmental and Regulatory Compliance
Environmental Impact Analysis
Mount Yamashiro
Impact of Water/Wastewater
And
Noise
Sharanya Ganesh
8403-4182-55
2. Sharanya Ganesh
May 2015
2
Table of Contents
1. Water
i) Constructional Impacts
ii) Operational Impacts
iii) Mitigation
2. Wastewater
i) Constructional Impacts
ii) Operational Impacts
iii) Mitigation
3. Noise
i) Constructional Impacts
ii) Operational Impacts
iii) Mitigation
4. Tables and Figure Source
5. References and Bibliography
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May 2015
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Water and Wastewater
Water
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) currently supplies water to the
existing Yamashiro site. The LADWP acquires its water supply from three sources including, the
Los Angeles Aqueduct (LAA), the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)
and local ground water.
It is said that Los Angeles Aqueduct supplies half of LA City’s water. The Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California is the largest wholesaler of water in California and on an average
provides close to 35 percent of the state’s water supply. MWD gets its water from Colorado River
and Northern California Bay Delta.
In 2009 to 2011, the LADWP had an available water supply of about 550000 acre feet with
approximately 14 percent coming from the local groundwater supply. Groundwater level in the
city I maintained through recharge basins.
Construction Impacts
During construction, portions of the existing landscaping would be removed and the existing
mountain will have modifications as a whole for development. As a result the underlying soils
would be exposed making it more permeable and susceptible for conveyance into nearby storm
drains. This permeability will not have a greater impact on the existing drainage system. The
redevelopment of this project would require earthwork activities that includes grading and
excavation of the site. There is a chance of exposure of the soil for time leading to corrosion. To
avoid this situation, it would be better to get a grading permit from the Department of Building
and Safety. This would include the requirements and standards designed to limit potential impact
associated with erosion to a permitted level.
Currently the area to be redeveloped is a mix of land uses that has a restaurant and surrounded by
beautiful landscape. Based on the water consumption analysis prepared by the LADWP, the water
consumption is close to 5000 gallons per day (GPD) seven days a week. The development of this
project will include the removal of the existing land uses, within the area prior to the construction
of the project. The consumption of water from existing land uses will be subtracted from the
Project’s contribution as a means of accurately calculating the net increase as a result of the Project.
The restaurant services and water for irrigation and maintenance of the landscape is provided by
an 8” water main. The existing water lines are assumed to be in a deteriorated condition due to
their age. Speaking to the representatives and the managers at Yamashiro, we got to know that no
development work has been done from the time it was constructed. Based on the LADWP Service
Advisory Report, the existing line has a fire flow of approximately 1700 GPM. No record of the
location and route of the existing domestic water line has been discovered for this project so it has
not been mapped beyond the two known ends of the water line. Thus the very first thing that has
4. Sharanya Ganesh
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to be done is the up gradation of the water system with progression of the planned development
phases.
Existing landscaping is irrigated. But the construction work and the redevelopment work will harm
the existing irrigation and landscaping which has to be looked into. Furthermore, there would be
on site water activities to reduce the airborne dust during the construction process which could
contribute to the pollutant loading in the storm water runoff. The NPDES (National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System) general permits will be required which would also specify the
erosion control measures to be used during construction activities.
Hydrants fronting the site will be used to fill water tanks for construction uses. Water will be used
during the construction, excavation and grading activities. It is estimated that 500,000 to 800,000
gallons of water will be used during the construction process.
As the site is one of the greatest historic places and the very goal is to increase the parking so as
to attract more crowd, better firefighting needs have to be developed as the existing ones will be
damaged during the construction phase.
Operations Impacts
The proposed project would result in an increase in an impervious or impenetrable surface. The
easy passage of water will be a little difficult. With the proposed improvements, drainage would
follow patterns that would be similar to existing drainage patterns, with the exception of increased
impervious areas resulting from new additions to the site and an increase in the surface parking
areas.
The proposed Project’s approximate 5 percent increase in impervious area would result in a post-
development storm water runoff flow of 23.30 cubic feet per second (cfs), which represents a 1
percent decrease in flow when compared to existing conditions of 23.62 cfs. Therefore, no increase
in flows during a 50-year storm condition would occur and Standard Urban Storm water Mitigation
Plan (SUSMP) requirements regarding peak flows would be met. Thus, impacts associated with
drainage would be less than significant.
As the proposed uses would be the same, the Project would not generate any new sources of
polluted runoff. In accordance with the Standard Urban Storm water Mitigation Plan, the existing
site would be required to implement Best Management Practices during this operational phase to
reduce the discharge of polluted runoff from the site. Once the pollutants are present in a water
body altering its physical makeup and habitat, it is much more difficult and expensive to restore
it. Therefore, the usage of Best Management Practices prevents the damage. Storm water pollution
has two main components:
The increased volume and rate of runoff from water resistant surfaces, such as roads and
parking lots, and
The amount of pollutants in the runoff.
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In turn, effective management of storm water runoff offers a multitude of benefits:
protection of wetlands and ecosystems,
improved water quality of streams, rivers and other water bodies,
protection of water resources,
protection of public health, and
flood control
The final selection of BMPs would be completed through coordination with the City of Los
Angeles. With compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
requirements, impacts associated with water quality would be less than significant.
Other project related activities could potentially increase the volume of storm water runoff and
contribute to pollutant loading, resulting in cumulative impacts to hydrology and surface water
quality. However, as with the proposed Project, all of the related projects would also be subject to
State NPDES permit requirements for both construction and operation. Each project would be
required to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and would be evaluated
individually to determine appropriate Management practices and treatment measures to avoid
impacts to surface water quality. In addition, the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works
reviews all construction projects on a case-by-case basis to ensure that sufficient local and regional
drainage capacity is available. Thus, cumulative impacts to hydrology and surface water quality
would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures – Water
Although Project impacts are less than significant, the following mitigation measures would help
to further reduce impacts:
The future development plan will utilize the latest code required water conserving fixtures for all
fixture installations. This will include new installations and replacements. By replacing existing
low efficiency fixtures and with new low-flow type fixtures there will be a reduction in calculated
demand from the municipal water supply. As each phase of this plan is implemented, the entire
existing water system will be replaced in stages as well. The end result will be an entirely new
water system, both domestic and fire service, to meet the increased demands and serviceability.
In terms of landscape and irrigation, the proposed development site will use automatic sprinkler
systems for the landscape irrigation. They can be adjusted on a seasonal basis to operate during
hours where water loss due to evaporation is less (as in periods from November to February). If
possible, provision will be provided for water reclamation. The reclaimed water wherever feasible
shall be used to irrigate the landscaped areas in and around our site. Further care should be taken
that the project complies with all sections of the City of Los Angeles’s Water Conservation
Ordinance (No: 166080). This Ordinance No. 166,080 is the Water Conservation plan for the City
of Los Angeles.
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The proposed Project shall use lower-volume water faucets and water saving shower taps in all
construction. The project will also use plumbing fixtures that reduce potential water loss from
leakage due to excessive washers. Installation of low flow water fixtures is also a feasible plan.
In terms of fire and safety, new fire hydrants are to be installed on-site to supplement two existing
public hydrants fronting the site. As each phase of the plan is proceeded new hydrants will be
added in each stage. Based on the design and plumbing, the existing municipal water supply has
insufficient pressure to supply new hydrants due to low available pressure and the site elevation.
Care is taken that the existing and proposed planting have been selected as either a native or climate
adapted species that has low watering requirements and are drought tolerant. The irrigation system
should be modelled with hydro zones to most effectively response to specific location of site and
maximize water efficiencies. A soil test of the existing conditions and management plan will
improve the soil conditions and allocate the appropriate amendments within planting areas. Storm
water run‐off and erosion is minimized through plantings, planter walls, and forms of terracing.
The underlying site geology is mainly impervious bedrock formations with little to no significant
percolation or infiltration to affect any groundwater sources. There are no wells or plans to draw
groundwater for use of the project. The master plan project will fall under Storm water
Management requirements for storm water mitigation measures, as dictated by the State of
California. This will reduce surface runoff pollutants and volumes to mitigate any off-site ground
water impact.
Historic building code State Historical Building Code (SHBC) provides other safety alternatives
which might give out other means of achieving the mitigation and safety in terms of sprinklers
using the historic code
Alternatives
a) Reduced water consumption and recycle and reuse by the reduction in parking space from 300
to 100 – This alternative will significantly bring down the water use during construction phase
from 500,000 to 800,000 to approximately 200,000 to 300,000 and also reduce the storm water
runoff. No project – This alternative yield no environmental impact
b) No project – This alternative yield no environmental impact
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Wastewater
The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (“LADPW”) provides the wastewater
services for the Project Site. Any wastewater that would be generated by the site would be treated
at the Hyperion Treatment Plant. The Hyperion Treatment plant includes the Tillman Water
Reclamation Plant and the Los Angeles Glendale Water Reclamation Plant. The Hyperion
treatment plant is designed to treat 450 million gallons per day. The average dry water flow is
approximately 360 million gallons per day, which leaves out close to 90 million gallons of
treatment capacity available.
Construction Impacts
Construction of the Project would include all necessary on‐ and off‐site sewer pipe improvements
and connections to adequately connect to the City’s existing sewer system. The development
project would not generate that much sewer flows that would harm or jeopardize the ability of the
treatment plant to operate within its treatment requirements.
The construction phase will involve the generation of a lot of wastewater. Wastewater would be
generated from activities including maintenance, wash down, cleaning of the construction
equipment and general use. Wastewater from construction activities would be collected in onsite
proprietary disposal systems and removed from the site by licensed waste disposal contractors
prior to connection to the Hyperion treatment plant.
Proprietary wastewater collection and holding tanks would be used to collect wastewater from
individual work activities, or work sites during construction. These tanks would be supplied and
operated by the contractors. Domestic wastewater would be managed by the use of onsite
proprietary sanitary units, which would be located close to individual work site areas. During the
dredging and reclamation works, domestic wastewater would be managed on board the dredge
vessels. The vessel storage tanks would be emptied by normal, onshore sanitary disposal facilities.
A licensed waste management company would handle the transport and disposal of all wastewater
from the site during the construction works.
Another important criterion to be kept in mind is that the volume of wastewater generated during
construction would depend on the number of construction workers at the site and the nature of the
construction activities being undertaken. For significant periods of the construction program, up
to 100 construction workers would be on site. With this number of workers, the peak domestic
wastewater volume during construction would be about 12kL per day.
During construction of the project, a negligible amount of wastewater would be generated by
construction staff. If we assume that portable toilets would be provided by a private company, with
the wastewater transported and disposed of off-site. Wastewater generation from construction
activities is not anticipated to cause a measurable increase in wastewater flows at a point where,
and at a time when, a sewer’s capacity is already constrained or that would cause a sewer’s capacity
to become constrained. Additionally, construction is not anticipated to generate wastewater flows
that would substantially or incrementally exceed the future scheduled capacity of any one
8. Sharanya Ganesh
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treatment plant by generating flows greater than those anticipated in the Wastewater Facilities Plan
or General Plan and its elements. Construction of the project would not require or result in the
construction of new wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities; or result in
a determination by the City that it has inadequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand
in addition to existing commitments. Therefore, construction impacts to the local wastewater
conveyance and treatment system would be less than significant.
Operation Impact
Conveyance of the wastewater to the Hyperion treatment plant is done by sewer lines that are
maintained by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works. Although the local
infrastructure is in place, the development of this site would require treatment and re-installation
of the 18 inch sewer line. The existing sewer lines have lost their efficiency due to age and they
have not been treated since the initial construction and set up. Any change to the existing sewer
infrastructure would be considered as a part of the development project.
Mitigation Measures - Wastewater:
Impacts related to wastewater treatment would be less than significant and the following mitigation
measures will address the impact to sewer.
For all future development projects within the Project Area, the Agency shall have a sewer
capacity study done. This would specify the wastewater flow from the project and assess
the capacity of the specific sewer lines that would serve the project to ensure the adequate
capacity will be available. This study will be utilized by the Bureau of Engineering as part
of their permitting process to determine whether sewer connection permits can be issued
for new developments.
The Agency shall consult with the Bureau of Engineering and Bureau of Sanitation to
prepare a plan that provides for the upgrading of the 18-inch line under Hollywood to meet
the requirements of the Bureau of Engineering and Bureau of Sanitation, prior to approving
any development which would generate flows that exceed the capacity of the lines serving
the project. This plan shall be included in the Agency’s implementation plan for the
Hollywood Redevelopment Project to provide for long-term replacement or upgrading of
the 18-inch line.
Alternative:
a) Reduced water consumption and recycle and reuse by the reduction in parking space from 300
to 100 – This alternative will significantly reduce the wastewater generation during the
construction phase. Also in the operational phase, assuming 2 people per car, the number of people
visiting the site will be reduced from 600 to 200. That will lead to a reduction in wastewater
generation
b) No project – This alternative yield no environmental impact
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NOISE
Noise
In addition we looked at the Noise key issues to identify where future analysis must be done. For
noise and vibration, the geographic scope of potential cumulative impacts is limited to the
immediate project vicinity as well as areas adjacent to any routes designated for access and hauling.
a. Physical Setting
In the physical setting, we focus on providing noise and ground borne vibration background.
Characteristics of Sound:
Sound is technically described in terms of the loudness (amplitude) and frequency (pitch) of
the sound. The standard unit of measurement for sound is the decibel (dB). The human ear
is not equally sensitive to sound at all frequencies. The “A-weighted scale,” abbreviated
dBA, reflects the normal hearing sensitivity range of the human ear. On this scale, the range
of human hearing extends from approximately 3 to 140 dBA. There are two types of noise
sources. They are the point sources, such as stationary equipment or individual motor
vehicles; and line sources, such as a roadway with a large number of point sources (motor
vehicles).
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) and Equivalent Noise Level (Leq):
Community Noise Equivalent Level. CNEL is an average sound level during a 24-hour
period. CNEL is a noise measurement scale, which accounts for noise source, distance, single
event duration, single event occurrence, frequency, and time of day. Humans perceive sound
between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. as if the sound were actually 5 decibels higher than if it
occurred from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. From 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., humans perceive sound
as if it were 10 dBA higher due to the lower background level. Hence, the CNEL is obtained
by adding an additional 5 decibels to sound levels in the evening from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. and 10 dBA to sound levels in the night before 7:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m.
Existing Local Noise Conditions:
The existing noise environment of this Yamashiro site is characterized a bit by vehicular traffic and
noises in the dense environment as it has a restaurant in the site. There is existing sound of people
conversing and/or cooking and kitchen domestic noises. Vehicular traffic is the primary source of
noise in the project vicinity as it is located right at the center of heart of LA, Hollywood.
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Construction Impacts:
The construction impact of this site will have the resulting noise level from the activity to exceed
the existing ambient and noise level by 10 dBA. The threshold of significance for the construction
noise is 10 dBA. The redevelopment project would utilize heavy construction equipment in form of
bulldozers, cranes, loaders. These would generate noise in a short term basis.
Construction of the Project would result in temporary increases in ambient noise levels in the
Project area on an intermittent basis. The increase in noise would likely result in a temporary
annoyance to nearby residents during the construction period. Noise levels would fluctuate
depending on equipment type and duration of use, distance between the noise source and
receptor, and presence or absence of noise attenuation barriers.
Construction activities require the use of noise-generating equipment, such as jackhammers,
pneumatic impact equipment, saws, pile drivers, and tractors. Typical noise levels from various
types of equipment that may be used during construction are listed below. The table shows noise
levels at distances of 50 and 100 feet from the construction noise source.
Table 1: Noise level of typical construction equipment
The noise level shown below take into account the likelihood that more than one piece of
construction would be in operation at each phase of the construction. These noise levels are based
on the surveys conducted by US EPA during the 1970 and 1980’s. These represent the worst case
scenario and it can be clearly seen that the highest noise levels are expected to occur during the
grading/excavation and finishing phases of construction.
NOISE
SOURCE
Noise Level (dBA) at 50 feet
Front Loader 73-86
Trucks 82-95
Cranes (moveable) 75-88
Cranes (derrick) 86-89
Saws 72-82
Pneumatic Impact Equipment 83-88
Jackhammers 81-98
Concrete Pumps 81-85
Generators 71-83
Compressors 75-87
Concrete Mixers 75-88
Backhoe 73-95
Pile Driving (peaks) 95-107
Tractor 77-98
Scraper/Grader 80-93
Paver 85-88
Caisson Drilling 84
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CONSTRUCTION PHASE NOISE LEVEL AT 50 FEET (DBA)
Ground Clearing 84
Excavation 89
Foundations 78
Erection 85
Finishing 89
Table 2: Outdoor construction noise level
The Project would include excavation for the Project parking structure. The excavated area
would serve as a noise barrier to street-level sensitive receptors as the depth of excavation increases
because noise levels are directly related to the “line-of-sight” or visibility factor of the noise source.
For example, depending on the location of the sensitive receptors in relation to the excavated area,
when 15 feet of excavation has occurred, construction activities within the excavated area may not
be visible (and hence less audible) to street-level sensitive receptors. In addition, once the structural
framing and the exterior building walls have been completed, the majority of construction activity
would take place within the structure and would not substantially increase interior noise levels
at sensitive receptors.
During construction, it is assumed that 10 delivery/haul trucks and 10 construction worker vehicles
would be traveling to and from the project site daily. For an eight-hour construction workday, it
is assumed that approximately 5 to 7 delivery/haul trucks per hour would be traveling on the
surrounding streets. It is assumed that construction worker vehicles would be traveling on the
roadways during the AM and PM peak hours. The construction worker vehicles would be
distributed throughout the roadways within the vicinity of the project site. Generally, noise levels
increase by 3 dBA when the number of similar noise sources double.
Operation Impacts:
When it comes to the operational impact of this site, the roadways surrounding this segment would
experience an increase in the CNEL of about 3 dBA. As it is surrounded by the residential locality,
the resulting noise may be unacceptable. The development would include the inclusion of several
new on site equipment and facilities generating noise. New HVAC equipment can be added. As it
is a restaurant in the current site, and we assume that in future also we would have the restaurant
there, inclusion of music for the entertainment and outdoor gathering place for people could
generate some level of noise.
Mobile noise generated by the Project would not cause the ambient noise level measured at the
property line of the noise-sensitive receptor sites to increase by 3 dBA CNEL to or within the
“normally unacceptable” or “clearly unacceptable” category. Potential stationary noise sources
related to the long-term operations of the Project include mechanical equipment and parking
areas. Mechanical equipment (e.g., parking structure air vents and heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) equipment) may generate noise levels ranging from 48 dBA to 66
13. Sharanya Ganesh
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dBA. Therefore, stationary noise due to the re development project would result in a less-than-
significant impact.
The noise monitoring at the existing parking structure is assumed to be close to 60 dBA. Based
on an increase in parking to 300, there would be an increase in approximately 1 or 1.1 dBA over
the existing noise level. As the parking structure activity would not incrementally increase
ambient noise levels by 5 dBA or more, parking noise would result in a less-than-significant
impact. The new passage way will also be used as a loading dock and for service access operations
related to the restaurant. The project will not result in an additional noise source due to the
operation of the loading docks.
The Project would not include significant stationary sources of ground-borne vibration, such as
heavy equipment operations. Operational ground-borne vibration in the Project vicinity would be
generated by vehicular travel and delivery trucks on the local roadways. Based on field
observations, vibration levels from adjacent roadways are not perceptible at the Project Site.
Similar to existing conditions, traffic-related vibration levels would not be perceptible by
sensitive receptors. Thus, operational vibration would result in a less-than-significant impact
Mitigation Measures:
Since Project construction is expected to result in short-term temporary significant noise impacts
to sensitive receptors, the following mitigation measures are recommended to minimize the
impacts:
There should be effective noise barriers to reduce the line of site between construction
equipment and the noise sensitive barriers during the grading activities and excavation of
the mount for parking space activity, providing a sound barrier.
The noise generating equipment shall be equipped with proper noise control devices like
mufflers and enclosures. Care should be taken that no additional noise is generated due to
worn out or improper parts.
Installation of sound attenuating devices on exhaust fans, mechanical equipment. Provision
of sound absorbing might be given with the equipment if possible.
Flexible sound control curtains shall be placed around drilling apparatus and drill rigs used
within the Project Site, to the extent feasible.
The construction contractor shall establish designated haul truck routes. The haul truck
routes shall avoid noises sensitive receptors, including, but are not limited to residential
uses and schools
All residential units located within 500 feet of the construction site shall be sent a notice
regarding the construction schedule of the Project. All notices and signs shall indicate the
dates and duration of construction activities, as well as provide a telephone number where
residents can inquire about the construction process and register complaints.
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There should be an acoustical analysis done. That would help in determining if the
materials to be used for the project reduce interior noise levels to or below 45 dBA or not.
If they do, then only those features shall be incorporated in the proposed project.
Major construction activity shall be limited to the hours between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. during
the week and between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays, per the City of Los Angeles
Municipal Code. Construction activities shall be prohibited on Sundays.
Alternative:
a) Reduction of parking space from 300 to 100 – This will lead to a reduction in noise level as the
number of people per car is assumed to be 2. So the number of people visiting the site is assumed
to come down from 600 to 200. This will lead to a reduction in the noise levels.
b) No Project – The No Project Alternative would not include any construction activity and, as
such, would not generate temporary noise sources that would result in increases in the ambient
noise levels. Therefore, the No Project Alternative would have no impact on the ambient noise
levels.
Conclusion:
Thus based on our analysis it is clear that alternative A, reduction of parking spaces from 300 to
100 accomplishes our project objectives and significantly mitigates the operational noise and water
impacts. Thus that is a better choice for our development site.
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Tables and figures:
1. Table 1: Noise level of typical construction equipment:
Source: USEPA, Noise from Construction Equipment and Operations, Building Equipment and
Home Appliances, PB 206717, 1971; Federal Transit Administration, Transit Noise and Vibration
Impact Assessment, FTA-VA-90-1003-06, May 2006
2. Table 2: Outdoor Construction Level Noise:
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Noise from Construction Equipment and Operations,
Building Equipment and Home Appliances, PB 206717 1971.
3. Figure 1: Weighted Noise Levels in dBA
Source: Cowan James P: Handbook of Environmental Acoustics
References:
Water and Wastewater:
1. http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21410 – State Historic Building Code (SHBC) for the
different building codes on historic resources
2. Initial Study – Hollywood Community Plan Area – 6250 Sunset Project ; Case Number:
ENV-2014-751-EIR
3. CEQA STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND FINDINGS OF FACT
- AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER’S GRIFFITH PARK CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT, 4700 WESTERN HERITAGE WAY ; State Clearinghouse No. 2007051084
4. CEQAnet – Griffith Campus Improvement Project
5. Hollywood Water Quality Improvement Project : final environmental impact report :
public participation and response to comments – Central Library, Los Angeles (Shelf
Location: 575.309794 H7465-9 1995)
6. Final environmental impact report for the Hollywood & Highland project – March 1998
575.309794 H7465-3
7. Hollywest Redevelopment Project : draft environmental impact report – July 1992 ;
575.309794 H7464
16. Sharanya Ganesh
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8. Environmental Impact Analysis : Wastewater ; City of Los Angeles December 2010 ;
Villagio Toscano Project
9. Environmental Impact Report Main Wastewater Treatment Plant Land Use Master Plan –
East Bay Municipal Utility District – February 2011
10. City of Malibu – Malibu Civic Center Wastewater Treatment Facility Project –
November 2014
11. Bay Delta Conservation Plan – Administrative Draft – March 2013
Noise
1. Environmental Impact Analysis – Cedar Medical Center West Tower Project – 2006
2. Environmental Impact Report Main Wastewater Treatment Plant Land Use Master Plant -
East Bay Municipal Utility District – February 2011
3. Final environmental impact report for the Hollywood & Highland project – March 1998
575.309794 H7465-3
4. Hollywest Redevelopment Project: draft environmental impact report – July 1992;
575.309794 H7464
5. Initial Study – Hollywood Community Plan Area – 6250 Sunset Project; Case Number: ENV-
2014-751-EIR
6. CEQA STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND FINDINGS OF FACT -
AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER’S GRIFFITH PARK CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT, 4700 WESTERN HERITAGE WAY ; State Clearinghouse No. 2007051084