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Unexpected noise complaints at unfavourable conditions
Henk Wolfert
a
 European Policy AdvisorDCMR EPAP.O. Box 8433100 AV SCHIEDAMThe Netherlands
ABSTRACT
During the nineties many complaints were registered by the Central Monitoring Room of theDCMR EPA. Those complaints were sent in by some citizens of Oostvoorne, a little communityopposite the industrial area of Rotterdam. Since that time many surveys were carried out inOostvoorne and near and on the industries settled on the nearest part of the industrial area in theGreater Rotterdam Area. In 2003 a survey was conducted by the Noise Section of DCMR to findthe origin of these complaints. Besides erecting a noise monitoring network, complaints werethoroughly analyzed and when complaints occurred experts have listened in Oostvoorne and nearthe industries that where suspected to induce the complaints. The complainers reported a droningnoise similar to noise from yet engines. Remarkably, the noise, heard by the Noise Experts too,appeared stronger on a great distance from the industry than nearby. It was thought thatmeteorological conditions, like an inverse temperature profile, could be the cause of the nuisancebecause no abnormalities of the industrial operations could be found. Odd enough most of thecomplaints and the highest noise levels were found during a sea breeze perpendicular on the lineOostvoorne - suspected enterprises..
a
E-mail:henk.wolfert@dcmr.nl 
1. INTRODUCTION
In the village of Oostvoorne many people are annoyed by noise originated by industrial siteswhich are nearby at just a few kilometers (1.5-3 km). Oostvoorne is a small village situated nearthe North Sea and is known as a seaside resort. The number of inhabitants amountsapproximately 7.000 but during the summer this number is more than tripled because of touristsvisiting this spa. The hinterland of Oostvoorne can be defined as quite rural with natural andagricultural areas. The village borders on a huge nature reserve which includes a quiet area. Inthe North West Oostvoorne borders on the Lake of Oostvoorne (Oostvoornse Meer) which
 
separates the village from the Maasvlakte I, a large industrial area that belongs to the Rotterdamport area.
Figure 1: Maasvlakte 1
This industrial area was built in the sixties of last century and comprises large containerterminals, a power plant and two large mass good storages of minerals, oil and coal. Currentlythis area is completed and in 2008 Rotterdam started with the construction of the secondMaasvlakte, an area that will have a size of 2000 hectares, see figure 2. The Rotterdam harbour isone of the largest harbours in the world and the largest in Europe.In the past (as from 1975) measurements were carried out frequently in Oostvoorne by the NoiseSection of DCMR EPA. During these measurements rather low noise levels were found ( L
Aeq
’sbetween 38 and 43 dB(A). Those measurements ended in the nineties because determination of noise levels in the Greater Rotterdam Area was often done by calculations in that period. Duringthe acoustical zoning of the Rotterdam port area, in 1990, the Province of South Hollanddecided, by decree, that the maximum noise levels in Oostvoorne in future shall not exceed 50dB(A) L
Aeq, 24 hrs
. This meant that a very limited grow of the noise levels was allowed from thattime (1-2 dB). Regarding to the Environmental Impact Assessment that has been carried out inthe last years it seems that the construction of the second Maasvlakte hardly doesn’t affect thenoise levels in Oostvoorne. The contribution of industrial noise from the second Maasvlakte willbe marginal and will raise the noise levels with just a few tenths of decibels. Noise caused byinbound and outbound transport of the second Maasvlakte could have a more significant effectbecause a considerable increase in the number of Heavy Good Vehicles and train movementsare expected. To mitigate the environmental effects of transportation the Rotterdam PortAuthorities decided to install an Environmental Zone for the Maasvlakte which means that
 
Heavy Good Vehicles that can not comply with the so called EURO V limits for NO
X,
Hydro-Carbons, Particulate Matter and CO, are banned from those industrial areas from 2013. It is notknown if cleaner HGV are quieter therefore we cannot conclude that this measure will affect thenoise levels as well.
Figure 2: Enlargement Maasvlakte
Many inhabitants of Oostvoorne fear an increase of environmental effects like air pollution andnoise caused by this enlargement. Last years the Central Monitoring Room (CMR) of DCMREPA saw an increase of noise complaints. Compared to other villages in the Greater RotterdamArea, see next chapter, the number of complaints was doubled or more . The Noise Section of DCMR contacted the Rotterdam Port Authorities and persuaded them to start an investigation tofind the origins of the annoyance. The Rotterdam Port Authorities agreed very quickly andfinanced the project. The project included an analysis of historical noise complaints, long termnoise measurements, temporary listening posts and a survey among the inhabitants of Oostvoorne on noise perception. The last part was conducted by the Rotterdam Health Service(RHS). The project was led by DCMR EPA and started in 2003.
2. HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF THE NOISE COMPLAINTS
As mentioned afore the CMR reported an increase of noise complaints sent in by the inhabitantsof Oostvoorne. The CMR, founded in 1972, registers all environmental complaints that are sentin by inhabitants of the Greater Rotterdam Area. Therefore it was rather easy to compare thecomplaints of Oostvoorne with other dwelling places and to determine if there had been anincrease in the past years. DCMR EPA took the complaints that were registered in the pasteleven years (1993-2003). The observations done by the CMR could be confirmed, see figure 3.
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