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Bulletin 2007-04
February 16, 2007
Revised Directive 038: Noise Control Issued
This bulletin announces the revised edition of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) Directive 038: Noise Control. This edition of Directive 038 replaces all previous editions of Directive 038, as well as Guide 38: Noise Control Directive User Guide and Interim Directive ID 99-08.
The requirements in this revised edition of Directive 038 are effective February 16, 2007.
Directive 038 has been under review since late 2002. This prolonged review period is the result of extensive stakeholder consultation, comprehensive international literature reviews, and the gathering of field data related to research projects undertaken by EUB Compliance and Operations Branch staff in association with other acoustical engineers and academics.
The review process was undertaken through the Directive Review Committee, which consisted of members of the public at large, professors from the Universities of Calgary and Alberta, industry representatives, government representatives, acoustical engineers, consultants, and the EUB. Information and comments related to the regulatory requirements were solicited from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Sundry Petroleum Operators Group, Alberta Acoustical Society, other regulatory bodies, and assorted community advisory panels.
Directive 038 is descended from the original comprehensive environmental noise guidelines published in 1988. The basis for these regulatory requirements is to
The EUB noise control directive is recognized as one of the most stringent in the world. It is
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used in other Canadian provinces and U.S. states as a model for their noise regulations;
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adopted as de facto requirements by other regulators (National Energy Board, BC Oil and Gas Commission, etc.); and
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consistent with World Health Organization noise limits.
What’s New in Directive 038
A summary of key revisions in the 2007 edition of Directive 038 is contained in Section 1.3 of the directive. The review committee has made numerous improvements that it believes will result in an improved and quieter noise environment around EUB-regulated facilities. For convenience, some of the most significant changes are highlighted below.
Permissible sound levels (PSL): Previously, facilities in remote areas where there are no nearby residents had a non-enforceable target sound level of 40 decibels (dBA) Leq (nighttime) at 1.5 kilometres from the facility fence line. The new requirement is that this sound level of 40 dBA Leq (nighttime) is now mandatory and enforceable (Section 2).
A1 (seasonal) adjustments may allow an additional 5 dBA Leq to be added to the PSL for wintertime complaints, but these cannot be used in the design of a facility. All A2 (lack of tonal or impact impulse component) adjustments have been rescinded (Section 2.1.2.2).
Comparing predicted noise levels to PSL: The predicted noise levels of the facility plus the ambient levels must be compared to the PSL (Section 3.3).
Noise models: The directive now includes a list of parameters and conditional inputs that the models must incorporate (Section 3.5). This will help to reduce major discrepancies between modellers looking at the same facility.
Reporting requirements for an acceptable noise impact assessment (NIA): A detailed list of information must be provided in an NIA to be considered acceptable and compliant with Directive 038 (Section 3.6).
Wind turbines: Acknowledgement has been given to wind turbines as a potential noise source, with monitoring criteria for resident complaints (Section 4.1.2).
Complaint investigation process: Noise Complaint Investigation forms are provided to assist licensees and their neighbours in determining the representative conditions when industrial noise is a problem, so that noise surveys can be performed under similar conditions (Section 4).
Low frequency noise (LFN): A new section (Section 4.1.1) is fully devoted to LFN, outlining how the presence of LFN is to be determined and what corresponding adjustments must be made to the A-weighted comprehensive sound level when it is present. Also, operators are cautioned to try to anticipate potential LFN sources in the design stage and mitigate accordingly during construction.
Wind speed and direction measurements must be taken at 1.2 to 10 metres aboveground in the vicinity of the sound monitoring position to ensure accurate representative conditions for noise monitoring.
Noise management plans: In unique cases as determined by the EUB, where traditional comprehensive sound surveys are not practical, compliance may be demonstrated through the development and implementation of detailed regional noise management plans (Section 5). One such area is Alberta’s industrial heartland, where there are many EUB-regulated and non-EUB-regulated facilities, making individual facility compliance nearly impossible to determine.
Measurement instrumentation and techniques: Calibration requirements (Appendix 2) have been added for sound level meters in accordance with the appropriate standards.
Contact Information
Questions regarding Directive 038 may be directed to the EUB’s Customer Contact Centre by telephone at (403) 297-8311 or by e-mail at eub.inquiries@eub.ca.
[Original signed by]
D. K. Boyler, P.Eng.
Executive Manager
Compliance and Operations Branch
