Letter to the Editor From E&B: Strict Noise Requirements

E&B looks forward to the City of Hermosa Beach’s upcoming environmental impact review process under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. In the interim, we would like to set the record straight on the recent misrepresentations of our Planning Application.

Given the location of the project site, E&B has paid special attention to the City’s noise requirements to ensure the proposed project fully complies.

The proposed project was designed to comply with the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approved by the City in 1993, which includes compliance with noise provisions in the City’s Oil Production Code, Chapter 21-A, of the City’s Municipal Code. The CUP conditions define sound attenuation, noise monitoring, and time restrictions for delivery, construction, and drilling activities to protect the surrounding residences from noise.

The 1993 CUP and Oil Production Code requirements are more restrictive than the general noise requirements in the City’s Municipal Code. Specifically, in addition to a 32-foot high sound attenuation wall provided around the project site during the set up/removal of the drill rig and all drilling activities, the “drilling rig shall be acoustically wrapped and/or paneled including the ancillary and support equipment. . . ” and “all drilling machines which produce noise . . . [must be] enclosed with soundproofing material” to meet strict noise decibel standards. 

In addition, the proposed project must comply with specific noise decibel standards set for the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and more restrictive standards between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., and the drilling activities cannot create noise levels that exceed these noise standards. 

A technical noise study is provided in Appendix J to the Planning Application on the city’s and E&B’s website. 

In order to make an informed decision on the benefits and safeguards of the Hermosa Beach Oil Recovery Project, we encourage residents to get the facts, review the Planning Application, and participate in the City’s EIR process and Community Dialogue. 

Michael Finch
Vice President of Health, Safety & Environment
E&B Natural Resources