The purpose of this meeting is get satisfactory action on two key issues related to Western Area Power Association’s impact on the surrounding lake environment and adjacent Arden Bluffs neighborhood.
Key Issues
1. Generator noise – WAPA has two compressors running almost constantly, and they emit a very annoying droning noise that carries across the lake and directly impacts quality of life for many residents. WAPA has said it would consider a temporary solution, and that a more permanent solution will address the issue in next year’s budget. In the community’s view, it is unacceptable for this noise pollution to continue until next year, when other budget issues could then intervene. This noise needs to be immediately reduced, then completely fixed as soon as possible.
2. Power pole and substation eyesore – WAPA has said it is willing to paint the pole, remove the isolation bars, and mitigate the view with a fence and plant material. However, community residents feel that a better solution would be to replace it with a smaller pole.
Agenda
1. Introductory statement (Jonathan Ganz, 5 minutes)
2. Discussion of noise (20 minutes)
3. Discussion of pole and substation size (15 minutes)
4. Other related issues (All attendees, 10 minutes)
5. Summary of action plan and closing (Jonathan, 10 minutes)
Meeting notes and action item assignments will be available via e-mail and hard copy.
Arden Bluffs Community and WAPA Post-Meeting Action Items March 27, 2006
The purpose of the meeting held on March 27, 2006, was to effect action from Western Area Power Administration regarding two issues related to its impact on the surrounding lake community environment.
Action Items and Comments
Chiller/generator noise
1. WAPA immediately will contact a sound engineer to investigate mitigating the sound from the chillers. In addition, WAPA has agreed to include the community in the discussion with the engineer.
Community comments
a. Remove the two walls that are funneling the noise toward the lake.
WAPA did not comment about this idea.
b. Construct a third wall between the chillers and the lake to contain the sound.
WAPA did not comment about this idea.
2. WAPA, within two months, will investigate and report to the community the feasibility of running the compressors only during the day.
Community comments
Many of us found the explanation that a thermostat controls the chiller is inconsistent with the constancy of run times. The standard practice of having a maintenance record would make it easy to determine when the compressors are actually running. If a record is available, we would like to review it.
3. WAPA, by October 1, 2006, will investigate moving or burying the chillers.
Community comments
We believe this is an inordinately long time to wait for a feasibility study, given the highly annoying nature of the disturbance. The only way this period would be acceptable would be if wall removal or new system installation were done immediately (see action item #1).
Charles Cooper contended that this was not feasible, due to the effort required to reroute the control lines and dig through the concrete slab.
Safety/security of power pole replacement
1. WAPA immediately will forward to the community an explanation of the safety issues involved in replacing the pole.
Community comments
Charles Cooper insisted that there are safety/security issues that would prevent or hamper the removal/replacement of the pole, but this seems like an excuse in light of the fact that they could safely make other alterations, such as removing the isolation switches.
2. Charles Cooper immediately will send us his boss’s contact information.
Community comments
We will appeal his stated decision not to replace the pole with a smaller, more standard size (similar to the other poles in the line).
No comments:
Post a Comment