MDOT will conduct a Highway Traffic Noise Impact Study for each alternative of Type I projects under detailed study. This study will be re-evaluated and updated during each subsequent phase of project development. The study will include the following:
1.Identification of existing and planned noise sensitive land uses. An inventory will be made of all existing activities, developed lands, and undeveloped lands for which development is planned, designed, and programmed, which may be affected by noise from the proposed highway. Proposed development will be considered planned, designed, and programmed on the date of issuance of building permits.2.Determination of existing noise levels. The determination of existing noise levels at the existing and planned noise sensitive land uses will be made by measuring and/or predicting Leq noise levels for the traffic characteristics which yield the worst hourly traffic noise impact on a regular basis. Normally at least one measurement will be made for every 20 noise sensitive land uses identified. Each house, church, school, apartment building, etc, will normally be considered to be a separate noise sensitive land use; however, several trailer houses in a trailer park or several businesses in the same building may be considered to be a single noise sensitive land use. Each measurement will be made for a period of at least fifteen minutes with an ANSI-Type 2 or better sound level meter or analyzer. Predictions will be made using a prediction method approved by the FHWA.3.Prediction of design year noise levels. The Leq noise levels will be predicted at existing and planned noise sensitive land uses for each alternative under detailed consideration including the no build alternative. The predictions will be made using a prediction method approved by the FHWA. The predictions will be made for the traffic characteristics which yield the worst hourly traffic noise impact on a regular basis.4.Determination of traffic noise impacts. Traffic noise impact will be determined at each existing and planned noise sensitive land use by comparing the predicted design year noise level with the Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) of 23 CFR 772 and with the existing noise level. If the predicted design year noise level approaches (comes within 1 dBA) or exceeds the NAC noise impact will occur. Noise impact will also occur if the predicted design year noise level substantially exceeds the existing noise level (15 dBA or greater).5.Examination and evaluation of alternative noise abatement measure s for reducing or eliminating noise impacts. Noise abatement measures such as traffic management measures, changes in horizontal and vertical alignments, acquisition of property for buffer zones, noise insulation of public use or nonprofit institutional structures and construction of noise barriers will be considered. The feasibility and reasonableness of noise barriers is covered in detail in Section V.6.Preparation of noise study report. A detailed noise study report will be prepared if noise impact is expected to occur at any locations along the route of the proposed project. If noise impact is not expected to occur in the vicinity of the proposed project, a short summary type noise study report will be prepared. The following will normally be included in a detailed noise study report:* [] []INTRODUCTION
* [] []SUMMARY OF RESULTS
* [] []FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUND AND NOISE
* [] []NOISE IMPACT CRITERIA
* [] []NOISE LEVEL MEASUREMENTS
* [] []NOISE LEVEL ESTIMATES
* [] []TRAFFIC
* [] []EXISTING NOISE ENVIRONMENT
* [] []DESIGN YEAR NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE NOISE ENVIRONMENT
* [] []DESIGN YEAR BUILD ALTERNATIVE NOISE ENVIRONMENT
* [] []TRAFFIC NOISE ABATEMENT
* [] []CONSTRUCTION NOISE ABATEMENT
* [] []FHWA POLICY REGARDING LAND USE DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE NOISE
* [] []ABATEMENT
* [] []TABLE NO. 1 EXTERIOR NOISE LEVELS
* [] []TABLE NO. 2 TRAFFIC DATA AND Leq CONTOURS
* [] []MAP PROPOSED PROJECT
37 Miss. Code. R. § 1-8501-03010-I-300