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Home My WebLink AboutNoise_Comm_Presentation.r1_12-3-2018Noise & Air Pollution Mitigation A proposal by the Noise Advisory Committee to Enhance Town Bylaws to Better Address Powered Lawn Care Equipment Noise & Pollution Presentation to Board of Selectmen December 3, 2018 Noise_Comm_Presentation.r1_12-3-2018.pptx Purpose of this Presentation 12/3/2018 To obtain Board of Selectmen approval to proceed with: •Submitting articles to the December 2018 Town Warrant pertaining to the mitigation of noise and air pollution created by powered lawn care equipment. •Disseminating information about these articles •Holding public meetings to inform and gather information. Lexington Noise Advisory Committee 2 Leaf Blowers Are Noisy •Disruptive to quality of life •Constant source of noise all day in neighborhoods throughout Lexington •Gas powered leaf blower noise travels long distances due to low frequency noise component. •Professional gas powered blowers are often in the 80 dB range, some exceed 90 dB •Affect hearing 3Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 Leaf Blowers Pollute •Gas powered units produce (some due to incomplete combustion) •VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) •Carcinogens •Toxic particulates •Greenhouse gases including carbon monoxide •Regulated hazardous air pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, 1,3 butadiene, acetaldehyde •From material blown up from the ground •Lawn chemicals •Aerosolized animal excrement •Particulate matter 4Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 What Are Lexington’s Noise Restrictions? •Lexington Definition of Noise Pollution and Restrictions* “Any noise that disturbs a reasonably prudent person or results in noise pollution or noise injury.” Noise pollution -“The condition resulting when: a broadband sound source raises the noise level by 10 or more dBA above the ambient noise” General noise bylaw (80-4 h) limits time of operation to 7am –9 pm any day of the week! *Lexington Code Chapter 80: Noise Control 5Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 Nearby Town Laws -Arlington •74dB(A) limit. •No gas powered leaf blowers between June 15th and September 15th •Leaf blowers before June 15 and after September 15 limited to: •7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday •8 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday •Prohibited on legal holidays and Sundays (June 15 to September 15 ) and. •Limited to one leaf blower on lots of < 6000 sf, one additional per 6000 sf. •No more than 30 minutes at a time with shut down time of 15 minutes. •Use limited to “vertically extended lines of the property”. •$200 fine. 6Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 WEBSITE Nearby Town Laws -Brookline •67dB(A) limit. •No gas powered leaf blowers between May 15th and September 15th •Leaf blowers before June 15 and after September 15 limited to: •8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday •9:00 am to 8:00 pm Saturday and Sunday •Exceptions: Town and its contractors, Non-residents with > 5 acres •Enforced by police officers, Building Commissioner (or designee), DPW Commissioner (or designee), or Director of Public Health (or designee) •A list of acceptable leaf blowers is provided •Town will test a leaf blower to certify it meets requirements •Fines -$50, 100, $200 (1st, 2nd, 3rd offense). 7Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 FINAL REPORT WEBSITE BY-LAW WEBSITE Nearby Town Laws -Newton •65 dB(A) limit. •No gas powered leaf blowers Memorial Day to Labor Day (Electric 65 dB(A) or less OK) •Restricted to: •7:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday •8:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays •Prohibited legal holidays and Sundays •$300 fine. 8Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 WEBSITE Bylaw Proposal for Lexington Article #1 –limit hours of all powered lawn care equipment (electric or gas) to: •8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday •9 am to 5 pm Saturday, Sunday, and Legal Holidays •DPW exemption for Patriots Day event preparation. •2020 implementation Article #2 –restriction on leaf blower operation as follows: •Noise level limited to 65 dBA measured at 50 feet from source. •Gas powered units to limited to: March 15th through May 15th , and October 1st through December 15th. Prohibited the rest of the year. •2021 implementation 12/3/2018 Lexington Noise Advisory Committee 9 Electric Leaf Blowers 12/3/2018 •Much quieter. •No gas engine pollutant gases or micro-particulate discharge. •Significant advances in battery technology in recent years has resulted in better battery life and quicker charge times. •Electric motors require less maintenance than gas engines. •Lexington DPW making the transition to electric leaf blowers. •Much less vibration than gas powered units. •No hand numbness for operator. Lexington Noise Advisory Committee 10 The Plan from Here •Gain approval of Board of Selectmen to move forward. •Submit two articles this month to be included in the Town Warrant. •Educate public and lawn care companies about the proposal. •Hold public hearings in January, 2019 to get additional input from residents and lawn care companies. •Modify articles if advised. •Have articles voted on at March, 2019 Town Meeting. 11Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 Additional Background Research •Lexington Town Manager –Jim Malloy •Lexington DPW –David Pinsonneault •Lexington Board of Health –Wendy Heiger-Bernays •Committee Selectmen Rep. –Michelle Ciccolo, Joe Pato •Sustainable Lexington –Rick Reibstein •Quiet Communities -Jamie Banks •Lexington Chamber of Commerce –pending 12Lexington Noise Advisory Committee12/3/2018 Issues 1.Educating all of issues and the content of the bylaw proposal. 2.Gaining a consensus of what’s the best balance for Lexington residents who want professionally maintained lawns with minimal noise and pollution risks. 3.Lawn care company adoption. How best to make them successful yet meet the needs of Lexington residents. 4.Enforcement. 5.Transition. 12/3/2018 Lexington Noise Advisory Committee 13 Thank You Questions?