§ 201.25

Measurement location and weather conditions for measurement on receiving property of the noise of retarders, car coupling, locomotive load cell test stands, and stationary locomotives. (a) Measurements must be conducted only at receiving property measurement locations.

(b) Measurement locations on receiving property must be selected such that no substantially vertical plane surface, other than a residential or commercial unit wall or facility boundary noise barrier, that exceeds 1.2 meters (4 feet) in height is located

within 10 meters (33.3 feet) of the microphone and that no exterior wall of a residential or commercial structure is located within 2.0 meters (6.6 feet) of the microphone. If the residential structure is a farm home, measurements must be made 2.0 to 10.0 meters (6.6 to 33.3 feet) from any exterior wall.

(c) No measurement may be made when the average wind velocity during the period of measurement exceeds 19.3 km/hr (12 mph) or when the maximum wind gust velocity exceeds 32.2 km/hr (20 mph).

(d) No measurement may be taken when precipitation, e.g., rain, snow, sleet, or hail, is occurring.

§ 201.26 Procedures for the measurement on receiving property of retarder and car coupling noise.

(a) Retarders-(1) Microphone. The microphone must be located on the receiving property and positioned at a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet) above the ground. The microphone must be positioned with respect to the equipment in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate. No person may stand between the microphone and the equipment being measured or be otherwise positioned relative to the microphone at variance with the manufacturers' recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate.

(2) Data. The maximum A-weighted sound levels (FAST) for every retarder sound observed during the measurement period must be read from the inIdicator and recorded. At least 30 consecutive retarder sounds must be measured. The measurement period must be at least 60 minutes and not more than 240 minutes.

(3) Adjusted average maximum Aweighted sound level. The energy average level for the measured retarder sounds must be calculated to determine the value of the average maximum A-weighted sound level (Lave max). This value is then adjusted by adding the adjustment (C) from Table 2 appropriate to the number of measurements divided by the duration of the measurement period (n/T), to obtain the adjusted average maximum Aweighted sound level (Ladi max) for retarders.

ave ma

(b) Car coupling impact-(1) Microphone. The microphone must be located on the receiving property and at a distance of at least 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of the nearest track on which car coupling occurs and its sound is measured (that is, either the microphone is located 30 meters (100 feet) from the nearest track on which couplings occur, or all sounds resulting from car coupling impacts that occur on tracks with centerlines located less than 30 meters (100

feet) from the microphone are disregarded). The microphone shall be positioned at a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 and 5 feet) above the ground, and it must be positioned with respect to the equipment in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate. No person may stand between the microphone and the equipment being measured or be otherwise positioned relative to the microphone at variance with the manufacturers' recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate.

(2) Data. The maximum A-weighted sound levels (FAST) for every car coupling impact sound observed during the measurement period must be read from the indicator and recorded. At least 30 consecutive car coupling impact sounds must be measured. The measurement period must be at least 60 minutes and not more than 240 minutes, and must be reported.

Ladi ave max = Lave max +C in dB. Values in Table 2 were calculated from [C=10 log_n/T] with intervals selected to round off values to the nearest whole decibel. The table may be extended or interpolated to finer interval gradations by using this defining equation.

(3) Adjusted average maximum Aweighted sound level. The energy average level for the measured car coupling sounds is calculated to determine the average maximum sound level (Lave max). It is then adjusted by adding the adjustment (C) from Table 2 appropriate to the number of measurements divided by the duration of the measure

ment period (n/T), to obtain the adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level (Ladi ave max) for car coupling impacts.

§ 201.27 Procedures for: (1) Determining applicability of the locomotive load cell test stand standard and switcher locomotive standard by noise measurement on a receiving property; (2) measurement of locomotive load cell test stands more than 120 meters (400 feet) on a receiving property.

(a) Microphone. The microphone must be located at a receiving property measurement location and must be positioned at a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 and 5 feet) above the ground. Its position with respect to the equipment must be in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate. No person may stand between the microphone and the equipment being measured or be otherwise positioned relative to the microphone at variance to the manufacturers' recommendations for Type 1 or Type 2 performance as appropriate.

(b) Data. (1) When there is evidence that at least one of these two types of nearly steady state sound sources is affecting the noise environment, the following measurements must be made. The purpose of these measurements is to determine the A-weighted L. statistical sound level, which is to be used as described in subparagraph (c) below to determine the applicability of the source standards. Before this determination can be made, the measured Lo is to be "validated" by comparing the measured Lio and L. statistical sound levels. If the difference between these levels is sufficiently small (4 dB or less), the source(s) being measured is considered to be a nearly steady state

source.

(2) Data shall be collected by measuring the instantaneous A-weighted sound level (FAST) at a rate of at least once each 10 seconds for a measurement period of at least 15 minutes and until 100 measurements are obtained. The data may be taken manually by direct reading of the indicator at 10 second intervals (±1 second), or by attaching a statistical analyzer, graphic level recorder, or other equiva

lent device to the sound level meter for a more continuous recording of the instantaneous sound level.

(3) The data shall be analyzed to determine the levels exceeded 99%, 90%, and 10% of the time, i.e., L, L, and L10, respectively. The value of L is considered a valid measure of the Aweighted sound level for the standards in § 201.16 only if the difference between Lio and L. has a value of 4 dB or less. If a measured value of Lo is not valid for this purpose, measurements may be taken over a longer period to attempt to improve the certainty of the measurement and to validate L. If Leo is valid and is less than the level in applicable standards for these source types, the sources are in compliance. If the measured value of L, is valid and exceeds the initial 65 dB requirement for any of the source types that appear to be affecting the noise environments, the evaluation according to the following paragraph (c) is required.

(c) Determination of applicability of the standard when L, is validated and is in excess of one or more of the source standards. The following procedures must be used to determine the compliance of the various source types when L is validated and in excess of one or more of the applicable standards.

(1) The principal direction of the nearly steady-state sound at the measurement location must be determined, if possible, by listening to the sound and localizing its apparent source(s). If the observer is clearly convinced by this localization process that the sound emanates only from one or both of these two sources, then:

(i) If only stationary locomotive(s), including at least one switcher locomotive, are present, the value of Lo is the value of the A-weighted sound level to be used in determining if the 65 dB requirement is exceeded and compliance with the standards in §§ 201.11(c) and 201.12(c) is necessary.

(ii) If only a locomotive load cell test stand and the locomotive being tested are present and operating, the value of Leo is the value of the A-weighted sound level to be used in determining applicability of the standard in § 201.16.

(iii) If a locomotive load cell test stand(s) and the locomotive being tested are present and operating with stationary locomotive(s), including at least one switcher locomotive, the value L. minus 3 dB is the value of the A-weighted sound level to be used in determining applicability of the standards in §§ 201.11(c), 201.12(c) and 201.16.

(iv) If a locomotive load cell test stand(s) and the locomotive being tested are present and operating, and a stationary locomotive(s) is present, and if the nearly steady-state sound level is observed to change by 10 dB, coincident with evidence of a change in operation of the locomotive load cell test stand but without apparent change in the location of stationary locomotives, another measurement of L90 must be made in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section. If this additional measure of L is validated and differs from the initial measure of Le by an absolute value of 10 dB or more, then the higher value of L is the value of the A-weighted sound level to be used in determining applicability of the standard in § 201.16.

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(2) In order to accomplish the comparison demonstration of paragraph (c)(3) of this section, when one or more source types is found not to be in compliance with the applicable standard(s), documentation of noise source information shall be necessary. This will include, but not be limited to, the approximate location of sources of each source type present and the microphone position on a diagram of the particular railroad facility, and the distances between the microphone location and each of the sources must be estimated and reported. Additionally, if other rail or nonrail noise sources are detected, they must be identified and similarly reported.

(3) If it can be demonstrated that the validated L is less than 5 dB greater than any L. measured at the same receiving property location when the source types that were operating during the initial measurement(s) are either turned off or moved, such that they can no longer be detected, the initial value(s) of L. must not be used for determining applicability to the

standards. This demonstration must be made at a time of day comparable to that of the initial measurements and when all other conditions are acoustically similar to those reported in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

[45 FR 1263, Jan. 4, 1980; 47 FR 14709, Apr. 6, 1982]

§ 201.28 Testing by railroad to determine probable compliance with the standard. (a) To determine whether it is probably complying with the regulation, and therefore whether it should institute noise abatement, a railroad may take measurements on its own property at locations that:

(1) Are between the source and receiving property

(2) Derive no greater benefit from shielding and other noise reduction features that does the receiving property; and

(3) Otherwise meet the requirements of § 201.25.

(b) Measurements made for this purpose should be in accordance with the appropriate procedures in § 201.26 or § 201.27. If the resulting level is less than the level stated in the standard, then there is probably compliance with the standard.

(c) This procedure is set forth to assist the railroad in devising its compliance plan, not as a substantive requirement of the regulation.

PART 202-MOTOR CARRIERS ENGAGED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE

Subpart A-General Provisions

Sec. 202.10 Definitions. 202.11 Effective date. 202.12 Applicability.

Subpart B-Interstate Motor Carrier Operations Standards

202.20 Standards for highway operations. 202.21 Standard for operation under sta⚫tionary test.

202.22 Visual exhaust system inspection. 202.23 Visual tire inspection.

AUTHORITY: Sec. 18, 36 Stat. 1249, 42 U.S.C. 4917(a).

As used in this part, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act:

(a) "Act" means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234)

(b) "Common carrier by motor vehicle" means any person who holds himself out to the general public to engage in the transportation by motor vehicle in interstate or foreign commerce of passengers or property or any class or classes thereof for compensation, whether over regular or irregular routes.

(c) "Contract carrier by motor vehicle" means any person who engages in transportation by motor vehicle of passengers or property in interstate or foreign commerce for compensation (other than transportation referred to in paragraph (b) of this section) under continuing contracts with one person or a limited number of persons either (1) for the furnishing of transportation services through the assignment of motor vehicles for a continuing period of time to the exclusive use of each person served or (2) for the furnishing of transportation services designed to meet the distinct need of each individual customer.

(d) "Cutout or by-pass or similar devices" means devices which vary the exhaust system gas flow so as to discharge the exhaust gas and acoustic energy to the atmosphere without passing through the entire length of the exhaust system, including all exhaust system sound attenuation components.

(e) "dB(A) means the standard abbreviation for A-weighted sound level in decibels.

(f) "Exhaust system" means the system comprised of a combination of components which provides for enclosed flow of exhaust gas from engine parts to the atmosphere.

(g) "Fast meter response" means that the fast dynamic response of the sound level meter shall be used. The fast dynamic response shall comply with the meter dynamic characteristics in paragraph 5.3 of the American National Standard Specification for

Sound Level Meters, ANSI S1. 4-1971. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1420 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.

(h) "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating" (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

(i) "Gross Combination Weight Rating" (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination vehicle.

(j) "Highway" means the streets, roads, and public ways in any State.

(k) "Interstate commerce" means the commerce between any place in a State and any place in another State or between places in the same State through another State, whether such commerce moves wholly by motor vehicle or partly by motor vehicle and partly by rail, express, water or air. This definition of "interstate commerce" for purposes of these regulations is the same as the definition of "interstate commerce" in section 203(a) of the Interstate Commerce Act. [49 U.S.C. 303(a)]

(1) "Motor carrier" means a common carrier by motor vehicle, a contract carrier by motor vehicle, or a private carrier of property by motor vehicle as those terms are defined by paragraphs (14), (15), and (17) of section 203(a) of the Interstate Commerce Act [49 U.S.C. 303(a)].

(m) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer, or semitrailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used upon the highways in the transportation of passengers or property, or any combination thereof, but does not include any vehicle, locomotive, or car operated exclusively on a rail or rails.

(n) "Muffler" means a device for abating the sound of escaping gases of an internal combustion engine.

(o) "Open site" means an area that is essentially free of large sound-reflecting objects, such as barriers, walls, board fences, signboards, parked vehicles, bridges, or buildings.

(p) "Private carrier of property by motor vehicle" means any person not included in terms "common carrier by motor vehicle" or "contract carrier by