Post-construction Sound Survey – AUC Rule 012
In this decision, the AUC considered whether Oldman 2 Wind Farm’s (“Oldman 2”) Spring 2017 Post-Construction Sound Survey at Receptors B, J, and K, complied with permissible sound levels set out in Rule 012: Noise Control (“Rule 012”).
The AUC found that the Post-Construction Sound Survey submitted by Oldman 2 demonstrated compliance with daytime and nighttime permissible sound levels, in accordance with Rule 012.
AUC Findings
The AUC found that:
(a) the wind and weather monitoring equipment used satisfied the requirements of Rule 012 and that the wind and weather monitoring equipment was located within 100 metres of the microphone locations, as also required by Rule 012; and
(b) the isolation analysis performed on the representative daytime and nighttime data using audio recordings and observations was reasonable.
Sufficient valid downwind data (three cumulative hours) was not obtained for each nighttime period at receptors J and K. However, a review of historical annual wind data collected between 2003 and 2013 indicated that those dwellings were not located downwind from the predominant wind (data showed that receptors J and K were downwind from the nearest wind turbine less than 1% of the time).
In light of the low occurrence of downwind conditions from the nearest wind turbine for receptors J and K, the AUC exempted Oldman 2 from the collection of sufficient valid downwind data at receptors J and K.
Based on the above findings, the AUC concluded that the comprehensive noise survey at receptors B, J and K was conducted in accordance with Rule 012.
