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The noise setting discussion will briefly summarize the nature of environmental noise and will introduce acoustical terms that relate to the analysis. It will also describe the existing noise environment in the project area through site-specific noise monitoring. EIP staff will visit the project area to observe the existing noise environment and to monitor existing noise conditions near potentially sensitive receptors. Relevant guidelines from the City's Noise Element and regulations from the City's Noise Ordinance, mostly concerning construction noise, will also be summarized. Existing and future surrounding noise-sensitive land uses will be identified. Construction Phases. EIP will qualitatively evaluate potential noise impacts from construction phases of the project, based on the typical pieces of construction equipment expected to be used. The concern would be protecting residences, businesses, and hospital uses (in subsequent phases of the project) from excessive construction noise. This would be achieved in accordance with the Noise Ordinance or by incorporating project features that minimize the noise impacts. For example, construction access could be routed away from existing or future residential uses, a dedicated phone number will be created to receive noise complaints, and various best management practices to abate noise will be recommended. Operations. Noise from routine operation of the anticipated uses would come from new project traffic, new mechanical equipment on the property (including the Central Utility Plant), and nuisance noise sources such as ambulance access, service vehicle loading and unloading, the heliport, and activities in the parking structures. Impacts due to operation of mechanical equipment will be quantified for existing and proposed sensitive receptors on and around the property, where information is available on the project-related mechanical equipment. If significant impacts are identified, mitigation measures will be presented. EIP will evaluate noise levels from project and future traffic in the vicinity of the most severely affected noise-sensitive receptors and the most heavily traveled roadways. The US Department of Transportation's FHW A Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model, initialized with CAL VENO vehicular noise emission rates and site-specific traffic data, will be used to estimate noise at affected sensitive receptors, including existing and potential residential uses. Traffic noise levels will be analyzed for the same scenarios considered in the Traffic and Circulation analysis. Where significant impacts are found (i.e., when the project-related traffic would result in a permanent increase in ambient noise levels of 5 dBA or more), EIP will present feasible mitigation measures, if possible. Such mitigation could include transportation control measures to orient vehicle access so as to minimize impacts to the neighborhood or the hospital itself. Other possible mitigation measures include sound barriers or baffles between project noise sources and adjacent uses. EIP has retained Illingworth & Rodkin to evaluate the noise impact of the proposed heliport. Emergency helipads are potential sources of community annoyance. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Helicopter Noise Model (HNM) version 2.2 will be used to determine the expected average noise levels and Sound Exposure Levels (SEL) produced by helicopter Consulting Services Agreement between City of San Leandro and Erp Associates Page 29 of 44