§ 9-40.070. Noise Mitigation

Each drilling operation and well site shall comply with the following standards for noise mitigation.

A.

Maximum noise levels. Unless exempted by this Subsection, drilling, production, and maintenance operations associated with an approved oil permit shall not produce noise, measured at a point anywhere on a lot containing occupied sensitive uses such as residences, schools, health care facilities, or places of public assembly, that exceeds the standards in Table 4-1, or any other more restrictive standard that may be established as a condition of a specific permit.

1.

Noise from the site shall be considered in excess of the standard when the average sound level, measured over one hour, is greater than the standard that follows. The determination of whether a violation has occurred shall be made in compliance with the provisions of the permit in question.

2.

Nomenclature and noise level descriptor definitions are in compliance with ANSI Sec. 3.33-1980, "Second Level Descriptors for Determination of Compatible Land Use." Measurement procedures shall comply with the adopted "Noise Measurement Guidelines and Procedures."

TABLE 4-1 - MAXIMUM NOISE LEVELS

Time Period	Average Noise Levels (L eq )
	Drilling and Maintenance Phase	Producing Phase (1)
Day (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)	55 dBA	45 dBA
Night (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.)	45 dBA	40 dBA

 

Notes:

(1) For purposes of this Section, a well is in the "producing phase" when hydrocarbons are being extracted or when the well is idled and not undergoing maintenance. It is presumed that a well is in the "drilling and maintenance phase" when not in the "producing phase."

B.

Exceptions from noise standards. The noise standards in Table 4-1 shall not be exceeded unless the ambient noise levels exceed the applicable noise standards. In such cases, the maximum allowable noise levels shall not exceed the ambient noise levels.

C.

Compliance with noise standards. When a permittee has been notified by the Department of Environmental Services that the operation is in violation of the applicable noise standard, the permittee shall correct the problem as soon as possible in coordination with the Department of Environmental Services. In the interim, operations may continue as stated below; however, the operator shall attempt to minimize the total noise generated at the site by limiting, whenever possible, activities including the following:

1.

Hammering on pipe;

2.

Racking or making-up of pipe;

3.

Acceleration and deceleration of engines or motors;

4.

Drilling assembly rotational speeds that cause more noise than necessary and could reasonably be reduced by use of a slower rotational speed;

5.

Picking up or laying down drill pipe, casing, tubing or rods into or out of the drill hole.

If the noise problem has not been corrected by 7:00 p.m. of the following day, the offending operations, except for those deemed necessary for safety reasons, shall be suspended by the Deputy Director/City Planner until the problem is corrected.

D.

Preventive noise insulation. If drilling, redrilling, or maintenance operations, including as pulling pipe or pumps, are located within 1,600 feet of an occupied sensitive use, the work platform, engine base and draw works, crown block, power source, pipe rack and other probable noise sources associated with a drilling or maintenance operation shall be enclosed with soundproofing sufficient to ensure that expected noise levels do not exceed the noise limits applicable to the permit. Such soundproofing shall be installed prior to the commencement of drilling or maintenance activities. These requirements may be waived if the Director is satisfied that the applicable noise standard can be met.

E.

Hours of well maintenance. All nonemergency maintenance of a well, such as the pulling of pipe and replacement of pumps, shall be limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. of the same day if the well site is located within 3,000 feet of an occupied residence. This requirement may be waived if the Director is satisfied that the applicable noise standard can be met.

F.

Limited drilling hours. All drilling activities shall be limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. of the same day when they occur less than 800 feet from an occupied sensitive use. Nighttime drilling shall be permitted if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director that the applicable noise standard can be met.

(§ 5, Ord. 1085, eff. January 6, 2006)