There’s a lot that’s been said about noise in the community, so we took a close look at where all this noise is really coming from.

None of the Roanoke Sand and Gravel operations, either at the Operations Center or associated with dredging are significant sources of noise.

The active dredging activity is not a significant noise producer as conversion to the electric-powered dredge system in 2001 substantially mitigated its operational noise associated with dredging or the removal of raw product. Noise measurement of the electric powered dredge is only 67dB(A) at 100’ within the site, or less than 50dB(A) at the nearest residence off site.

Operations noise also involves a payloader which may work in various locations on the site. The closest the payloader may come to residential boundaries is 700.’ At that distance, the noise from the payloader is measured at 50dB(A), which is less than a single passenger vehicle passing through your neighborhood.

The permanently centralized Operations Center includes tractor trailer loading from the adjoining stockpiles of finished materials. However, this Operations Center is some 1,400 feet from the closest property line and any residentially zoned property. At that distance, the Operations Center would be measured at 44dB(A) in the closest neighborhood. The Operations Center sounds would be less than normal conversation.

So Where Do We Fit In?
Measured in dB(A)
Threshold for hearing
0
Rural nighttime background noise
20-40
Quiet bedroom
35
Our Operations Center impact at closest residential boundary (1,400’)
44
Electric dredge operations at nearest residence (600’)
<50
Our payloader operations at a location closest to the
 nearest residence (700’)
50
Normal conversation at 3 ft.
50–55
Car at 40mph at 300 ft.
55
Busy general office
60
Other non-Roanoke truck loading activity on Rocky Point Rd.
63
Truck at 30mph at 300 ft.
65
One barking beagle at 3 ft.
70
The inside of a diesel school bus
75
Pneumatic drill at 21 ft.
95
Jet aircraft at 750 ft.
105
Threshold of pain
140
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