Paul

D.

Schomer,

Ph.D.,

P.E.

Member; Board

Certified

S G~

0~

~

110 ~

S SOC~P

IF 5,

11G.

Institute of

Noise

Control

Engineering

CHAMPAIGN,

ILLINOIS

61821

Consultants

in

Acoustics

and Noise Control

PHONE:

(217)

359-6602

FAX:

(217)

359-3303

n

RECEIVED

Illinois Pollution Control Board

J.R. Thompson Center

100 West Randolf

JAN

2

8

2003

Chicago, IL 60601

Pollution Control Board

January 22, 2003

RE: NOISE RULE UPDATE: AMENDMENTS TO 35

ILL. ADM. CODE 900 and 903; R03-8

Dear Sirs:

I have the following comments:

COMMENT 1.

Page 13.

Section 900.103

Measurement Procedures

b)

Procedures Applicable only to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 901

Comment:

The one-hour LEQ is too short for some situations and far too long for continuous

situations such as the fans at a grain elevator or on other pollution control devices.

Measurements should be made in accordance with American National Standards Institute

Quantities and Procedures for Description and Measurement of Environmental Sound, Part 3:

Short-term Measurements with

an Observer Present.

This Standard describes how to measure

and correct for the background—the exact task required.

The text should read:

1)

All

measurement and all measurement procedures to determine whetheremissions of

sound comply with 35

Ill. Adm.

Code 901

shall with the exception of measurements to

determine whetheremissions of sound comply with 35

Ill. Adm. Code 901.109, be based

on LEQ averaging,

as defined in 35 Ill. Adm.

Code 900.101

using a period of observation

that is commensurate with the variability of the sound in question.

If the sound is steady,

then a 10-minute period of observation is sufficient; if the sound is non-steady, then a 1-

hour period of observation is required; and if the sound is highly variable, a period of

observation greater than

1

hour may be required.

All such measurements and

measurements procedures for LEQ must correct, or provide for the correction of such

emissions, for the presence of ambient or background noise in

accordance with the

procedures in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 910.

(Add S 12.9 Part 3 as item E in the list of Standards included with this clause and in 900.105)

MEMBER

FIRM,

NATIONAL COUNCIL

OF ACOUSTICAL CONSULTANTS

http://www.SchomerAndAssociates.com

Email: schomer@SchomerAndAssociates.com

---

Not discussed or offered as amendments are two issues that require change.

First, the adjustment

currently contained in the Rules for general impulsive sound is nominally 5 dB.

ANSI S 12.9

Part

1

(one of the added references) has a

12 dB

adjustment for “highly impulsive” sounds (e.g.,

gunfire, metal hammering, wood hammering),

5

dB for “regular impulsive” sounds, and a

separate procedure for “high

energy impulsive” sounds (e.g., quarry, mining).

Illinois Rules

need to incorporate these types ofadjustments

and procedures but this

is far beyond a simple

comment.

Incidentally, the same impulsive adjustments and procedures are in ISO

1996 Part 2,

Amendment

1

and in the new ISO

1996 part

1 Final Draft International Standard.

The second issue

is noise-induced building

vibrations and rattles.

Research has shown that

noise-induced vibrations and rattles greatly increase noise annoyance over just the audibility of

the sound.

The increase in annoyance is at least equivalent to

10 dB

and probably closerto 20

dB.

This type of noise impact should be added to the Rules but again, such a change is beyond

what can be conveyed in

a simple letter.

Very Sincerely

Paul Schomer, Ph.D., P.E.

Member Board Certified, Institute ofNoise Control Engineering

cc. Mr. Howard Chinn