§ 8107-5.6.13. Noise standard.

Unless herein exempted, drilling, production, and maintenance operations associated with an approved oil permit shall not produce noise, measured at a point outside of occupied sensitive uses such as residences, schools, health care facilities, or places of public assembly, that exceeds the following standard or any other more restrictive standard that may be established as a condition of a specific permit. Noise from the subject property 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 accordance with the provisions of the permit in question.

Nomenclature and noise level descriptor definitions are in accordance with the Ventura County General Plan Goals, Policies and Programs and the Ventura County General Plan Hazards Appendix. Measurement procedures shall be in accordance with the Ventura County General Plan Hazards Appendix.

The maximum allowable average sound level is as follows:

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	One Hour Average Noise Levels (LEQ)
Time Period	Drilling and Maintenance  Phase	Producing Phase
Day (6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)	55 dB(A)	45 dB(A)
Evening (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)	50 dB(A)	40 dB(A)
Night (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.)	45 dB(A)	40 dB(A)

 

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For purposes of this section, a well is in the "producing phase" when hydro-carbons 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."

(Am. Ord. 3900—6/20/89)