Noise Pollution in the Neighborhood
Noise standards are already being violated in Weed neighborhoods from existing Roseburg Forest Products operations. Neighbors complain of excessive noise both day and night, with resulting loss of sleep, and stress. Studies show that that excessive noise exposure can induce heart disease, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, causes sleep disturbance, worsens some mental illnesses, and causes decreased school performance.
Roseburg's EIR was supposed to identify all new noise that would arise from the project. Because noise standards are already being exceeded from current operations, any additional new noise sources are required to be mitigated, or lessened, such as by adding sound insulation to buildings or equipment. But the project's EIR fails to even disclose how loud some of project's major noise sources will be, and offers meager, inadequate mitigations.
Consultants' studies show that this wood-fired power plant stands to increase noise levels within Weed by another 4 or 5 decibels – a significant increase. The EIR withheld critical evidence of such excessive noise. It also placed no limit on how much additional noise Roseburg's loud cooling towers could make. The County added ineffective generator noise mitigations at the last moment without allowing the public its right to review or comment on such mitigation changes.
Click here for more detailed info about noise pollution
Roseburg could build a noise wall to protect neighbors from excessive noise.
Trucking noise
The project will also generate new noise from the additional trucks needed to haul wood chips and waste ash to and from the project. On some days, as many as 100 to 200 trucks might disturb our south county neighborhoods. The EIR fails to disclose the noise impacts of the project's many loud trucks needed to deliver wood fuel from distant locations. Roseburg's trucks will pass through McCloud, Mount Shasta, Weed and maybe Dunsmuir. These communities have some major roads exposed to traffic noise that already exceeds local standards. California law requires agencies to protect residents living along excessively noisy roads from new projects with trucking that increases their noise exposure yet further. In approving Roseburg's project, County officials ignored a recent court decision that makes this very point.
Link to case: Gray v. County of Madera (Madera Ranch Quarry, Inc.) (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1099 (October 24, 2008)
Map of possible trucking routes; Hwy 97, I-5, Mt. Shasta Boulevard, Hwy 89.
Click here for a videotaped sample of
Roseburg's noise intrusion
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