What is the name of your state? PA
- Concrete plant was opened in 1976 with a small fleet.
- Houses in our neighborhood were built as early as 1850-1900
- Concrete plant is now a very large regional player (I'm telling you this, because whatever grandfathered laws that may exist [in our township, the law is simply that 'unreasonable levels of noise are not tolerated/permitted'] have been outgrown since the plant is now 10 times it's original size when the law was drafted)
- Concrete plant regularly works 24 hours per day
- We commissioned professional sound readings - concrete plant sustains 70+ dB's at all times of day and night. Plant spikes to over 100 dB's throughout day and night.
- Neighborhood wrote 10 page paper citing EPA guidelines, Noise Pollution Clearinghouse information, township open space and beautification articles.
- In the paper, we listed a chart showing dB levels heard in our neighborhood at different times per day.
- In the paper, we proposed two solutions: hours of operations restrictions, installation of a sound wall (similar to those seen along highways).
- Side note: Sound walls are made of concrete... the plant manufactures concrete.
- The state police has received regular complaints from multiple neighbors over the years, but is "helpless to do anything, it's a township issue".
- Township is not responsive ("We're making progress... two more weeks and we'll call you back with an update" that started over a year ago).
I understand the concept of "coming to a nuisance" (e.g. moving next to a cow farm and complaining about smell of manure isn't reasonable etc.). But from my understanding, there are reasonable/expected levels of nuisance, and unreasonable levels. Given that the windows of our houses literally shake at 4 a.m. when the plant is operating, and given the dB levels that we've professionally recorded, the noise level and hours of operation are unreasonable.
Questions:
- Have you seen this issue before (different than a noisy neighbor.. this is a big tax base/employer)
- Is our township powerless as they seem to be? or just inept?
- If inept, any recourse we can take?
- Any other general advice or things our group should look into?
- Concrete plant was opened in 1976 with a small fleet.
- Houses in our neighborhood were built as early as 1850-1900
- Concrete plant is now a very large regional player (I'm telling you this, because whatever grandfathered laws that may exist [in our township, the law is simply that 'unreasonable levels of noise are not tolerated/permitted'] have been outgrown since the plant is now 10 times it's original size when the law was drafted)
- Concrete plant regularly works 24 hours per day
- We commissioned professional sound readings - concrete plant sustains 70+ dB's at all times of day and night. Plant spikes to over 100 dB's throughout day and night.
- Neighborhood wrote 10 page paper citing EPA guidelines, Noise Pollution Clearinghouse information, township open space and beautification articles.
- In the paper, we listed a chart showing dB levels heard in our neighborhood at different times per day.
- In the paper, we proposed two solutions: hours of operations restrictions, installation of a sound wall (similar to those seen along highways).
- Side note: Sound walls are made of concrete... the plant manufactures concrete.
- The state police has received regular complaints from multiple neighbors over the years, but is "helpless to do anything, it's a township issue".
- Township is not responsive ("We're making progress... two more weeks and we'll call you back with an update" that started over a year ago).
I understand the concept of "coming to a nuisance" (e.g. moving next to a cow farm and complaining about smell of manure isn't reasonable etc.). But from my understanding, there are reasonable/expected levels of nuisance, and unreasonable levels. Given that the windows of our houses literally shake at 4 a.m. when the plant is operating, and given the dB levels that we've professionally recorded, the noise level and hours of operation are unreasonable.
Questions:
- Have you seen this issue before (different than a noisy neighbor.. this is a big tax base/employer)
- Is our township powerless as they seem to be? or just inept?
- If inept, any recourse we can take?
- Any other general advice or things our group should look into?
