HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.06.2020 HDR Memo
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Environmental Review Technical Memo
Date: Thursday, February 06, 2020
Project: 900 King Street Redevelopment
To: Jennifer Gray, Michal Nowak, Chris Bradbury
cc:
From: HDR: Noemi Castillo
Michael Musso
Subject: Technical Review of the second draft of the January 3, 2020 preliminary
FEIS sections (Air Quality, Noise, Vibration and Hazardous Materials)
Introduction
As requested, Henningson Durham & Richardson Architecture and Engineering, PC
(HDR) performed a technical review of the Air Quality, Noise, Vibration, and Hazardous
Materials sections of the second draft of the preliminary Final Environmental Impact
Statement (pFEIS), dated January 3, 2020, prepared for the property located at 900 King
Street. This second draft of the pFEIS was provided as a result of comments from the
Village of Rye Brook (Village) Board and consultants on previous drafts of the pFEIS,
including an informal Draft 900 King Street Redevelopment Revised pFEIS, dated July
24, 2019, circulated by AKRF to the Village’s consultants.
The revised January 3, 2020 pFEIS was prepared to assess a revised Proposed Action,
consisting of the removal of l 16 Independent Living (IL) units, for a new total of 136 IL
units, 20 townhouse units and 94 Assisted Living (AL) beds. In addition, the gross square
footage (gsf) of the revised Proposed Action has been reduced by another 20,280 gsf,
for a new revised total of 355,902 gsf. The January 3, 2020 Air Quality, Noise, Vibration,
and Hazardous Materials sections were also prepared to address previous comments,
including those provided in HDR’s June 14, 2019 Technical Memo regarding a review of
the original (May 2019) pFEIS, and HDR’s October 10, 2019 Technical Memo regarding
the proposed language and edits included in the July 24, 2019 informal Draft Revised
pFEIS.
As detailed below, some prior HDR comments on our assessments have not been fully
addressed with the January 3, 2020 submittal. Recommendations for supplemental
information / clarifications for the pFEIS Record, and/or for consideration at a later time
during Village permitting required prior to mobilization for demolition / construction
activities, are provided below. We note that based on our review of the revised pFEIS
documents (January 2020), the reduction in project scale does not substantially affect
our focused reviews of environmental conditions, air quality, and noise.
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Air Quality
• Initial Stationary Screening (applicable to Chapters 2 and 3) –
o The pFEIS was revised to state which pollutants were screened and
provides a footnote for those pollutants for which neither screening nor
analysis was performed. The footnote states that “Consistent with the
DEIS, the revised Proposed Project would not result in significant
emissions of SO2, lead or ozone. Therefore, further analysis for these
pollutants is not warranted.” However, the DEIS does not directly
confirm that these parameters were indeed evaluated and ‘screened
out’, or directly discuss why these parameters were not screened or
assessed (e.g., for the built scenario or for the demolition /
construction phase). The applicant should provide a follow-up
statement to address this item.
o Currently, the results of the air quality parameter screening is not
provided. The pFEIS should clearly state that based on the screening,
only NO2 and PM2.5 were identified to be further assessed for the
stationary sources.
• Maximum Predicted PM2.5 Concentrations (applicable to Chapters 2 and 3) –
o Parking analysis – Since a NAAQS is provided for Carbon Monoxide (CO)
on a 1-hour basis and an 8-hour basis, the applicant should explain why
a CO 1-hour analysis is not required, and why only predicted emissions
for CO 8-hour is provided.
o The project includes single three- and four-story Independent Living (IL)
and Assisted Living (AL) buildings as well as 20 two-bedroom residential
townhouses and a parking facility. As stated in previous Technical
Memos, the total maximum predicted PM2.5 concentrations for the full
development of the Revised Proposed Project should be reported in the
pFEIS and confirmed to not exceed the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS). Section 2.13.4, “Parking Analysis,” states that the
total maximum predicted 24-hour and annual PM2.5 concentrations are
24.4 µg/m3 and 7.6 µg/m3, respectively These values do not appear to
include the emissions predicted from all stationary sources, as shown in
the table below. The table below was prepared by HDR to calculate the
operational maximum total concentrations predicted, as per the
information provided in different sections of the pFEIS. The operational
maximum total predicted 24-hour and annual average PM2.5
concentrations should include all stationary sources (IL/AL Buildings and
the Townhouses) as well as the parking facility and the existing
background concentrations. Furthermore, the inclusion of this table in
the revised pFEIS may help present the results more clearly.
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Pollutant Averaging
Period
Maximum Modeled Impact Background
Concentration
3
Total
Concentration NAAQS IL/AL
Buildings
(HVAC)1
Townhouses
(HVAC)2
Parking
Garage
PM2.5 24-hour 2 1.2 6.7 15.7 25.6 35
Annual 0.1 0.5 1.1 6.0 7.7 12
Notes:
1 See Table 2.13-2.
2 See Table 2.13-3.
3 See Table 2.13-1.
• HDR NOTE: It is understood that regarding potential Air Quality impacts, all
construction mitigation measures will be installed and in effect during demolition
and construction activities, as applicable.
Noise
• Per the pFEIS, increases in noise levels up to 12 dBA are anticipated at the
Arbors condos (North Side of Ivy Hill Crescent) during portions of the
approximately 6 months of site demolition and ground clearing. In addition, these
same residents would also experience a noise level increase of up to 9 dBA
intermittently over the course of another 11 months during the construction
period. These noise increases would be perceived by residents using their
outdoor space as a doubling of noise. As such, prior to the start of
construction and demolition activities, the Applicant should be required to
erect a 12-foot noise barrier along the entire perimeter of the Project Site
on the western property line for the purpose of shielding the Arbors
Condos, in addition to the barrier along the southern property boundary
already committed to in the pFEIS.
• Per the pFEIS, increases in noise levels up to 11.8 dBA are anticipated at the
property to the east (including Village Hall, Police Department and Fire
Department). In addition, interior nose levels would be approximately 57 dBA
during the most noise-intensive periods of construction, which exceed the
interior noise level limit of 45 dBA. Therefore, prior to the start of
construction and demolition activities on the Project Site, the Applicant
should be required to erect a 12-foot noise barrier along the entire
perimeter of the Project Site on the eastern property line for the purpose
of shielding the Village Hall occupants
• HDR NOTE: It is understood that all construction noise mitigation measures will
be in effect during demolition and construction activities, including, but not limited
to, the erection of the noise barriers.
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Vibration
• Prior to starting demolition / construction (i.e., during Village permit stage), the
site vibration monitoring plan should include a listing of a Tennessee Gas Pipeline
contact, along with the contacts for all existing subsurface utilities at the site and
adjacent properties (water, sewer, gas, electric, fiber / cable). It is recommended
that the applicant make a notification to each utility entity (Tennessee Gas
Pipeline and all others) prior to the start of demolition and construction activities,
and report to the Building Department on such notifications and any feedback
received.
• HDR NOTE: It is the applicant’s responsibility to document existing (pre-
demolition / pre-construction) conditions of all subsurface utilities to the extent
feasible, and to rectify any damage to such caused by the proposed work.
Hazardous Materials
• As per HDR prior comments, it is understood that all interior building abatement
(asbestos, lead-based paint; older electrical equipment such as light fixtures,
switches, caulking that could contain mercury, PCBs, or other regulated
materials), as required, should be completed prior to any demolition activities
including but not limited to disturbing existing building walls and the existing slab.
Recommendations for Permit/Approval Conditions
Following the Village Board’s pFEIS findings, it is understood that specific Village
approvals (e.g., Final Site Plan; Building Permits for demolition; etc.) will be required to
specify conditions related to the future demolition and construction phases of the
project. HDR recommendations (for future reference) are provided below for each of
our main review categories. If applicable, these recommendations could also be used
for the Village’s pFEIS findings statement.
Air Quality
• The following air quality control measures should be required as a
permit/approval condition during demolition and construction activities. Many of
these have been previously noted by HDR, during our technical reviews of the
May 2019 pFEIS and the Draft Demolition Site Plan application (that was
withdrawn).
o Minimizing the area of soil that is disturbed at any one time;
o Minimizing the amount of time during which soils are exposed;
o Installing truck mats or anti-tracking pads at egress points to clean the
trucks’ tires prior to leaving the Project Site;
o Watering of exposed areas during dry periods without creating standing
or flowing of water;
o Covering stored materials with a tarp to reduce windborne dust;
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o Limiting on-Site construction vehicle speed to 5 miles per hour (mph);
o Using truck covers/tarp rollers that fully cover hauled materials and keep
debris and dust from being expelled from the truck along its haul route;
o On-site visual monitoring of dust conditions to identify potential adverse
air quality impacts from airborne dust and, potentially, the need implement
a Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP);
o Ultra-low sulfur diesel shall be utilized for all construction equipment and
vehicles;
o All equipment shall be properly maintained;
o Idling of construction or delivery vehicles or other equipment shall not be
allowed when the equipment is not in active use;
o Trucks shall not be allowed to idle for longer than three minutes;
o Cleaning the asphalt parking lot and driveway, including the construction
entrance, and adjacent roadways (Arbor Drive and King Street) used for
access to the site; and
o Non-road diesel engines with a power rating of 50 horsepower (hp) or
greater, and controlled truck fleets (i.e., truck fleets under long-term
contract with the project) including but not limited to concrete mixing and
pumping trucks, shall utilize Best Available Tailpipe (BAT) technology for
reducing diesel particulate matter emissions. Diesel particulate filters
(DPFs) have been identified as being the tailpipe technology currently
proven to have the highest reduction capability. Contracts shall specify
that all diesel non-road engines rated at 50 hp or greater shall utilize
DPFs, either installed by the original equipment manufacturer or
retrofitted. Retrofitted DPFs must be verified by EPA or the California Air
Resources Board. Active DPFs or other technologies proven to achieve
an equivalent reduction may also be used.
Noise
• The following noise control measures should be required as a permit/approval
condition during demolition and construction activities. Many of these have been
previously noted by HDR, during our technical reviews of the May 2019 pFEIS
and Demolition Site Plan application. It is recommended that the Building
Department request in-field noise level readings - if warranted based on site work
activities - to confirm the noise levels are not above the applicant’s modeled
criteria at property lines.
o Erection of a noise barrier that is 12 feet tall along the perimeter of the
Project Site on:
Arbor Drive along the southern property boundary, with the
exception of the site entrance;
the western property boundary; and
the eastern property boundary.
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Details on the noise barriers to be constructed should be provided for
review prior to mobilization. The noise barrier should be maintained
throughout the demolition and construction activities.
o Noisy equipment, such as cranes, concrete pumps, concrete trucks, and
delivery trucks, shall be located away from, and shielded from, sensitive
receptors, such as the school, to the extent practicable;
o Equipment, including the mufflers on the equipment, shall be required to
be properly maintained;
o Electrification of construction equipment to the extent feasible and
practicable shall be undertaken as soon in the construction process as
logistics allow;
o The site shall be configured to minimize back-up alarm noise to the extent
feasible and practicable;
o Trucks shall not be allowed to idle for longer than three minutes.
o Generators shall be placed on the west side of the Project Site facing the
Parkway, which shall avoid direct line of sight from the generators to the
surrounding sensitive receptors, including The Arbors, Village Hall, and
Village Hall Police and Fire Departments. Models with Level 1 or 2 sound
enclosures shall be selected.
o Equipment anticipated to increase noise levels at the property boundary
by more than 6 dBA or to a noise level greater than 65 dBA shall include
path controls.
o Coordination with the School District.
o The days of the week and time of day restrictions codified in the Village
Noise Code, with the exception of the morning start time, as discussed in
Section 2.16.2.2 of the DEIS, “Construction: Potential Traffic Impacts on
the MS/HS”;
Vibration
• The permit/approval shall include a condition that a vibration monitoring program
at The Arbors community and at the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (2 stations/
monitoring points) shall be implemented during demolition and during the use of
construction impact devices (such as, jackhammers, pavement breakers, pile
drivers, pneumatic tools, etc.) to ensure that vibration levels do not exceed the
thresholds that could potentially result in damage to adjoining property, utilities
(water, sewer, gas, electric, fiber / cable), etc.
• Vibration monitoring shall be conducted in accordance with any demolition-
related approvals from the Village. Outreach to contacts of the subsurface utilities
on and around the project site shall be documented to the Building Department.
Hazardous Materials
• It is recommended that the Village Building Department track progress on
abatement activities conducted during demolition (asbestos containing material
(ACM), lead-based paint, and other materials that may be encountered).
• As agreed to (and as noted in the revised PFEIS), the Applicant shall prepare a
Materials Management Plan (MMP) prior to the start of excavation or ground
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disturbance work. The MMP in accordance with the revised PFEIS shall be
included as a permit/approval condition. Demolition shall occur in accordance
with applicable regulations (OSHA, NYSDOL, etc.), and in accordance with any
demolition-related approvals from the Village.
• Copies of agency correspondences (NYSDOL, etc.) shall be submitted to the
Building Department.
• It is recommended that a list of transporters and potential recycling / disposal
facilities that will accept demolition materials be provided to the Village Building
Department prior to the start of work. It is further recommended that the applicant
submit an inventory (demo materials / types, including abated materials;
quantities removed; off-site destinations and disposal/recycling documentation)
to the Building Department within 30 days of the completion of work.
• Copies of all abatement filings (e.g., New York State Department of Labor for
ACM) and memos describing abatement work completed shall be furnished to
the Building Department within 45 days after completion.