Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 12.32 Noise

It is unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated any oil production or gas processing equipment on any well, or incidental to a well, within the incorporated limits of the City in any manner so as to create any noise which causes the exterior and interior noise level at the receiving property to be in excess of those limits provided in Chapter 8.80.

(ORD-16-0027 § 1(Exh. A), 2016; Ord. C-5935 § 2, 1983: Ord. C-5575 § 3 (part), 1980: prior code § 3300.38)

A. No person, either as owner, agent, or operator, shall conduct any drilling, or redrilling operation at any well located within oil operating areas 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and/or 24 in any manner so as to create any noise which causes the exterior noise level when measured at the property line of any single- or multiple-family dwelling unit, guest room, commercial building, school, hospital, church, or public library to exceed the noise level standards set forth in Table 1. The exterior noise level generated by the drilling or redrilling operation shall be continuously monitored to ensure conformance to the noise level standards. The costs of such monitoring shall be borne by the operator conducting such operation.

Table 1 EXTERIOR NOISE LEVEL*

* In accordance with Chapter 8.80 - Noise

No person, either as owner, agent, or operator, shall conduct any drilling or redrilling operation at any time at any well located in oil operating areas 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and/or 24 in any manner so as to create any noise which causes the interior noise level in excess of those limits provided in Chapter 8.80.

If the existing ambient noise level, exclusive of existing drilling activity, at the nearest adjacent dwelling unit, guest room, commercial building, school, hospital, church or public library property line to the requested oil drilling site does not exceed the permitted nighttime noise levels in Table 1 for any period, then the following regulations shall apply:

1. The only activity permitted between the hours of seven p.m. (7:00 p.m.) and seven a.m. (7:00 a.m.) will be "on bottom" drilling, with single joint connections. During the same time frame, none of the following will be allowed:

a. Hammering on pipe;

b. Racking of pipe;

c. Acceleration and deceleration of engines or motors;

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

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

2. If the measured ambient level exceeds that permissible within any of the first four (4) noise limit categories in Table 1 above, the allowable noise exposure standard shall be increased in five (5) decibel increments in each affected category as appropriate to encompass or reflect the ambient noise level. In the event the ambient noise level exceeds the fifth (5th) noise limit category, the maximum allowable noise level under said category shall be increased to equal the maximum ambient noise level.

3. If the difference between the noise levels with noise source operating and not operating is four (4) decibels or greater, then the noise measurement of the alleged source can be considered valid with a correction applied to account for the contribution of the ambient noise. The correction is to be applied in accordance with data shown in Table 2.

Table 2 BACKGROUND NOISE CORRECTION

The sound level meter used in conducting noise evaluations shall meet A.N.S.I. Standard S1.4-1983 (R2006) Specifications for Sound Level Meters, Type 1 or Type 2, or an instrument and the associated recording and analyzing equipment that will provide equivalent data. The acoustic terminology used in these sections shall be defined as in Section 8.80.020, and noise measurements procedure shall be conducted in compliance with methods specified in Section 8.80.140.

B. In the event that the owner, agent or operator conducting any operation which produces a noise level believed to be in excess of the noise levels provided in this Section refuses or otherwise declines to shut down the drilling operation so that the ambient noise level can be measured, then the ambient noise level shall be estimated by performing a measurement in the same general area of the offending source but at a sufficient distance such that the offending noise from the source is inaudible.

C. If measurements conducted under Subsections A or B of this Section indicate a noise level in excess of that provided in Subsection A, such drilling operation shall be deemed to be in violation of this Section.

D. Violation of any provision of this Section shall be cause for a notice of violation to be issued by the Director. Thereafter, if the violation of any such condition or conditions of this Section is not brought into compliance with this title, the Director shall restrict the hours of operations as indicated in Subsection 12.12.060.G. The procedure for violation provided in this Section shall not be exclusive but shall be in addition to any other procedure for violation which the Director can employ under the provisions of this title.

(ORD-16-0027 § 1(Exh. A), 2016; Ord. C-5575 § 3 (part), 1980: prior code § 3300.39)

A. No person, either as owner, agent or operator, shall conduct any drilling or redrilling operations on any well located within the oil operating areas 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 unless all derricks and all drilling machines which produce noise and which are used in connection with said drilling or redrilling operations are enclosed with soundproofing material as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

B. When soundproofing is required by the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, such soundproofing shall comply with accepted A.P.I. standards and shall be subject to Fire Department regulations. All doors and similar openings shall be kept closed during drilling operations, except for ingress and egress and necessary logging and well completion operations. Alternate materials or methods of soundproofing may be used, provided that such alternative has been approved by the Director and the Fire Chief. The Director and the Fire Chief may approve any such alternative if they find that the proposed material and method is equal to soundproofing ability and fire-resistive qualities to the aforesaid specifications. Either may require the submission of evidence to substantiate any claims that may be made regarding the use of such alternative.

(ORD-16-0027 § 1(Exh. A), 2016; Ord. C-5575 § 3 (part), 1980: prior code § 3300.40)

For the purpose of noise abatement, the Director shall have the authority to monitor the operation of oil field equipment used for drilling, redrilling, well servicing, remedial or maintenance work.

(ORD-16-0027 § 1(Exh. A), 2016; Ord. C-5575 § 3 (part), 1980: prior code § 3300.40)