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35-029 (3) (rzt� of 'Nart4aillptan �Iassaiitnsetts �a S' DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS 212 Mdn Street • Muni �� C ', , INSPECTORr Northampton,MA01( i0 �n ---_ 1 Deborah B. Wilson AUG 1 2006 64 West Farms Road Florence, MA 01062 A August 11, 2006 Dear Deborah, You filed a complaint about excessive noise at Willard's gravel pit on May 5, 2006. 1 investigated that complaint and observed noise levels of 75 db at the edge of your property. The allowable limit of steady, non-fluctuating noise at the property line of an industrial use such as a gravel pit is 70 db, so I visited Willard's to determine the source. At the gravel pit, I determined that the mason's sand mill was the source of the noise. I spoke to Bill Willard and he told me that it was new machinery. We agreed that he would shut down the mill until it was repaired. There were problems with the equipment supplier and it was not repaired until June 8. It was not run in the interim. Mr. Willard called to let me know that it was fixed, and at that time I checked the sound levels there at the pit. The levels were 68 to 70 db at the scale house, less than 150 feet from the mason's sand mill, with a clear line of sight. The property line that abuts your land is at least 750 feet from the mill. Since sound intensity decreases by the squared value of the increase in distance, I assumed that the noise at your property line was below the limit. I called and stopped at your house several times but was unable to contact you. I closed the complaint on June 16, 2006. 1 received a call from Councilor Marianne LaBarge on June 19, 2006. She asked the building department to investigate a complaint that trucks on West Farms Road were too loud. I explained to her that traffic concerns are not addressed by the building department and referred her to Captain Wall at the police department. I did speak to a Benoit Trucking driver at Willard's gravel pit and passed along the information I'd gotten from Ms LaBarge. I again tried, unsuccessfully, to contact you regarding this complaint. I received another call from Councilor Marianne LaBarge on July 20, 2006 regarding continued excessive noise from the gravel pit. I explained to her at that time that we would need evidence of excessive noise because our investigations indicate that the problem was corrected and because we have not received any other complaints from the 47 other abutters that are within 300 feet of the gravel pit. The tests for non-steady, fluctuating noises involve energy-rated or LEQ measurements over a one hour period. Without more compelling evidence of excessive noise levels, we cannot investigate this complaint. You may contact me at the building department. Our telephone number is 587-1240 and our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting that we close at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays. My email address is: Hasbrouck(cD-city.northampton.ma.us Sincerely, cc: Mayor's Office Louis Hasbrouck Marianne LaBarge At�tti©Y ;. City of Northampton Local Inspector and Zoning Enforcement