HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR_Olympic Pipeline_Noise_Variance_v2DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Project Location Map
A. REPORT TO THE HEARING EXAMINER
Hearing Date: September 8, 2020
Project File Number: PR20-000198
Project Name: Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Land Use File Number: LUA20-000167, V-H
Project Manager: Jill Ding, Senior Planner
Owner: City of Renton, 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
Applicant: Tim Dunn, Olympic Pipeline Co., LLC, 2319 Lind Ave SW, Renton, WA 98057
Contact: Carla Woodworth, GeoEngineers, inc., 17425 NE Union Hill Rd, Suite 250,
Redmond, WA 98052
Project Location: Intersection of S 132nd St, Renton Ave S, and 84th Ave S
Project Summary: The applicant is requesting a Noise Variance to work during night and weekend
hours beyond the days and hours permitted in Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-4-
030 to complete Olympic’s pipeline inspection project. Olympic Pipe Line Company
LLC (Olympic) operates a 12-inch-diameter pipeline that transports petroleum
products through Western Washington, including through the City of Renton
(Renton). The 12-inch diameter pipeline was recently internally inspected utilizing
an in-line inspection (ILI) tool. Olympic is required by the U.S. DOT Office of
Pipeline Safety to excavate and visually inspect sections of the pipeline where the
internal inspection data indicates an anomaly so that any established repair
criteria can be met. The internal pipeline inspection identified one anomaly on the
12-inch pipeline within the pipeline casing below the southbound/eastbound
travel lane of Renton Avenue South, east of South 132nd Street. The anomaly must
be inspected and repaired (if necessary). Olympic also will install a new vent and
test wires to the existing steel casing at this site to allow for cathodic protection
monitoring of the pipeline within the casing, also an activity required by the U.S.
DOT Office of Pipeline Safety. Olympic requests that the work be allowed during
extended nighttime work from Monday through Saturday between 8:00 pm and
7:00 am, Saturday daytime hours (from 7:00 am to 9:00 am), Saturday nighttime
hours (from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am) and up to a 24-hour work day on Sunday to
meet the project schedule. The project schedule as currently planned is 7 days and
6 nights.
Site Area: Approximately 560 sq. ft.
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
LUA20-000167, V-H
Report of September 8, 2020 Page 2 of 7
SR_Olympic_Pipeline_Noise_Variance Staff Report
B. EXHIBITS:
Exhibit 1: Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
Exhibit 2: Franchise Application and Construction Plan Set
Exhibit 3: Traffic Control Plan
Exhibit 4: Variance Justification
C. GENERAL INFORMATION:
1. Owner(s) of Record: City of Renton
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
2. Zoning Classification: N/A, City of Renton Public Right-of-Way
3. Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation: N/A, City of Renton Public Right-of-Way
4. Existing Site Use: City of Renton Public Right-of-Way
5. Critical Areas: Protected and sensitive slopes are mapped within the
project vicinity
6. Neighborhood Characteristics: City of Renton Public Right-of-Way abutting R-10 and
R-14 zoned properties
7. Site Area: Approximately 560 sq. ft.
D. HISTORICAL/BACKGROUND:
Action Land Use File No. Ordinance No. Date
Comprehensive Plan N/A 5758 06/22/2015
Zoning N/A 5758 06/22/2015
Annexation History N/A 5484 10/14/2009
F. APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE RENTON MUNICIPAL CODE:
1. Title VIII, Chapter 7 Noise Level Regulations
G. FINDINGS OF FACT (FOF):
1. The Planning Division of the City of Renton accepted the above master application for review on July 27,
2020 and determined the application complete on July 29, 2020. The project complies with the 120-day
review period.
2. The project site is located at the Intersection of S 132nd St, Renton Ave S, and 84th Ave S.
3. The project site is currently a developed public right-of-way.
4. No tree removal is proposed. N 30th St NE 44th St
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
LUA20-000167, V-H
Report of September 8, 2020 Page 3 of 7
SR_Olympic_Pipeline_Noise_Variance Staff Report
5. Protected and sensitive slopes are mapped within the project vicinity
6. The applicant is proposing construction work to begin and end in fall of 2020.
7. Staff received no public comment letters or agency comments.
8. Representatives from various city departments have reviewed the application materials to identify and
address issues raised by the proposed development. These comments are contained in the official file, and
the essence of the comments has been incorporated into the appropriate sections of this report and the
Departmental Recommendation at the end of this report.
9. Variance Analysis: Olympic requests that the work be allowed during extended nighttime work from
Monday through Saturday between 8:00 pm and 7:00 am, Saturday daytime hours (from 7:00 am to 9:00
am), Saturday nighttime hours (from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am) and up to a 24-hour work day on Sunday to
meet the project schedule. The project schedule as currently planned is 7 days and 6 nights. The proposal
is compliant with the following variance criteria, pursuant to RMC 8-7-8.D. Therefore, staff recommends
approval of the requested variance.
Compliance Variance Criteria and Analysis
a. That the applicant suffers practical difficulties and unnecessary hardship and the
variance is necessary because of special circumstances applicable to the applicant’s
property or project, and that the strict application of this Chapter will deprive the
subject property owner or applicant of rights and privileges enjoyed by others.
Staff Comment: Olympic is required to inspect the pipeline at an anomaly location
identified during their recent internal inspection tool run. The U.S. DOT Office of Pipeline
Safety requires the anomaly to be inspected and repaired, if necessary, by October 6,
2020. A steel casing was placed around the 12-inch pipeline during its installation to
provide protection to the pipeline passing beneath the roadway (Renton Avenue S.). The
pipeline anomaly is inside the cased section of pipeline. Olympic will use the opportunity
of having the south casing end exposed during the inspection tool dig to install
replacement test wires onto the casing, and to bring the test wires to the ground surface
in a test station (vent) located on the south side of the sidewalk along Renton Avenue
S. The test wires will be routinely monitored as part of Olympic's cathodic protection
program.
Olympic is required by the U.S. DOT to excavate, inspect and repair, if necessary, the
pipeline at the anomaly location identified during their recent internal inspection tool
run. Because of the depth and extent of the required excavation area, the contractor
will need to close three lanes of traffic, including the turn lane to S. 132nd Street, and
the center median on Renton Avenue S., condensing five travel lanes down to two travel
lanes for the duration of the project. To minimize the duration of the project and to
protect workers from high traffic volume and speed during construction for a shorter
period of time, Olympic proposes to work night hours and the weekend.
Staff concurs that the work proposed would be best conducted during the shorter
duration proposed, which would require allowing work during nighttime and weekend
hours.
Compliant if
Condition of
Approval is Met
b. That the granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public
health, welfare or safety, or unduly injurious to the property or improvements in
the vicinity of the location for which this variance is sought.
Staff Comment: The work area is between about 150 feet and 200 feet away from the
closest residences and likely will have minimal noise impacts to the residents along
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
LUA20-000167, V-H
Report of September 8, 2020 Page 4 of 7
SR_Olympic_Pipeline_Noise_Variance Staff Report
Renton Avenue S. However, if the nearest residences have offensive noise impacts,
Olympic may need to address with mitigation measures as described below.
Olympic has summarized the typical construction equipment that may be used for the
project work activities (Exhibit 4) and the average maximum noise level of each piece of
equipment individually at distances of 50 feet, 150 feet and 200 feet from the work area
below. All of the noise sources will be point sources. We also have included some typical
traffic noise levels and other types of background noise in a residential or commercial
area and Renton Avenue S. ambient noise levels.
Olympic is proposing to implement the following noise reduction strategies to mitigate
the equipment noise levels and/or public notification to help prevent complaints:
• Provide 24- to 48-hour notice to residents via a door hanger, or equivalent, before
starting the work.
• Trucks and equipment will use a reverse signal alarms or broad band alarms instead
of standard pure-tone backup-warning devices (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(4).o) If
needed, all backup alarms can be turned off since Olympic will employ a backup
observer to back trucks into work areas per BP safety protocols.
• Care will be taken not to bang tail gates while unloading material from truck beds.
• Contractor will avoid parking and idling trucks next to residences to the extent
possible.
• Warning horns will not be used except in emergency situations.
• Traffic control drivers on Renton Avenue S. or South 132nd Street will park at least
150 feet away from residences, when feasible.
• Residents will notice the operation of trucks and other equipment while the equipment
is moving along the work area completing their task; however, the sound will dissipate
as the trucks move away from the sensitive receiver.
• Olympic will make every effort within their control to schedule activities with the
highest noise-generating potential to occur during normal, non-variance workday
hours.
• Olympic will make every effort within their control to use equipment with the highest
noise-generating potential individually and not concurrently during variance workday
and night hours.
• Fixed noise generating equipment will be positioned on-site to maximize the distance
to the nearest residences.
• The traffic control to channelize traffic to two lanes of travel will reduce noise
generated by vehicles moving past the work area.
Additional mitigation measures associated with improving resident relations may be
implemented by Olympic, as necessary, if complaints are reported with the mitigation
measures above used. Those measures may include:
• Noise reducing technologies around pumps/generators, such as noise shields, and
other methods
• Coordination with complainants to create mutually agreeable compensation.
Staff concurs that with the mitigation proposed above, the requested noise variance
would not be materially detrimental to the public welfare, in addition, the proposed
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
LUA20-000167, V-H
Report of September 8, 2020 Page 5 of 7
SR_Olympic_Pipeline_Noise_Variance Staff Report
work would reduce the duration of traffic impacts during the daytime hours as discussed
in criterion “a.” above. Staff recommends as a condition of approval, that the mitigation
proposed above be implemented during project construction.
c. That the approval is a minimum variance that will accomplish the desired purpose.
Staff Comment: The applicant contends that the requested 7 days and 6 nights noise
variance is the minimum necessary to allow the project to be completed within the
requested timeframe. Olympic would work to minimize the duration of the project
construction; however, Olympic anticipates that the full requested duration of the
project, 7 days and 6 nights, will be required for the project.
Olympic proposes to make every effort within their control to schedule activities with
the highest noise-generating potential, such as use of a vacuum truck, an excavator, a
roller or a compactor, to occur during normal, non-variance workday hours.
Staff concurs that the requested variance is the minimum variance necessary to allow
the applicant to complete the required work within the requested timeframe.
Compliant if All
Conditions of
Approval are
Met
d. That the variance contains such conditions deemed to be necessary to limit the
impact of the variance on the residence or property owners impacted by the
variance. The variance approval may be subject to conditions including, but not
limited to, the following:
1) Implementation of a noise monitoring program;
2) Maximum noise levels;
3) Limitation on types of equipment and use of particular equipment;
4) Limitation on back-up beepers for equipment;
5) Required use of noise shields or barriers;
6) Restrictions to specific times and days;
7) Specific requirements for documentation of compliance with the noise
variance conditions;
8) Specific requirements for notification to nearby residents;
9) Required cash security to pay for inspection services to verify compliance;
10) Required access to the project by the City to verify compliance with the noise
variance conditions;
11) Specific program to allow for temporary hotel vouchers to affected residents;
12) Requirements for written verification that all workers understand the noise
variance conditions for the project; and
13) Provision allowing the City to immediately revoke the variance approval if the
variance conditions are violated.
Staff Comment: As previously discussed above under criterion “b.”, the applicant has
proposed several noise mitigation measures as well as alternative noise mitigation
measures that could be implemented during project construction to reduce the impacts
of the proposed construction on surrounding residential uses. Staff concurs that with
the implementation of the mitigations measures as recommended in criterion “b.”
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
LUA20-000167, V-H
Report of September 8, 2020 Page 6 of 7
SR_Olympic_Pipeline_Noise_Variance Staff Report
H. CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant, Olympic Pipeline Co., LLC, requested a noise variance in order to work during extended
nighttime hours, Monday through Saturday between 8:00 pm and 7:00 am, Saturday daytime hours (from
2. 7:00 am to 9:00 am), Saturday nighttime hours (from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am) and up to a 24-hour work day
on Sunday to meet the project schedule. The project schedule as currently planned is 7 days and 6 nights.
3. The proposed noise variance meets the seven (7) criteria to be considered in making a decision on a
variance request as specified by RMC 8-7-8.D, if all conditions of approval are met. The analysis of the
proposal according to noise variance criteria is found in the body of the Staff Report, see FOF 9.
above that adverse impacts of the proposed construction would be adequately
mitigated.
e. The importance of the services provided by the facility creating the noise and the
other impacts caused to the public safety, health and welfare balanced against the
harm to be suffered by residents or property owners receiving the increased noise
permitted under this variance.
Staff Comment: The Olympic Pipeline serves terminals and airports in Western
Washington and Oregon. The applicant contends that if they do not complete the
inspection and repair (if needed) of the pipeline, the integrity of the pipeline could be
impacted. As a result, there is a possibility that U.S DOT would require that Olympic de-
rate this section of pipeline, requiring that Olympic reduce delivery pressure and rates.
Reducing the delivery pressures and rates may have significant regional commercial
impacts. Completing the project would improve the integrity of the pipeline and reduce
the risk of an environmental release of produce from the pipeline.
Staff concurs that the requested variance would allow the applicant to complete
inspection and possible repair work in a manner that balances potential adverse noise
impacts to surrounding uses with the benefits of completing the work quickly a reducing
traffic impacts during peak hours.
f. The availability of practicable alternative locations or methods for the proposed
use which will generate the noise.
Staff Comment: The applicant contends that there is no practical alternative location of
the project since Olympic must inspect and repair the pipeline at the location of the
anomaly. Staff concurs that the requested variance would allow the applicant to
complete inspection and possible repair work in a manner that balances potential
adverse noise impacts to surrounding uses with the benefits of completing the work
quickly and reducing traffic impacts during peak hours.
g. The extent by which the prescribed noise limitations will be exceeded by the
variance and the extent and duration of the variance.
Staff Comment: Olympic does not anticipate that the extent of the prescribed noise
limitations (Exhibit 4) would be exceeded based on the known scope of the project and
the anticipated equipment required to complete the project at this time.
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
LUA20-000167, V-H
Report of September 8, 2020 Page 7 of 7
SR_Olympic_Pipeline_Noise_Variance Staff Report
I. RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance Noise Variance, File No. LUA20-000167, V-
H, as depicted in Exhibit 2, subject to the following conditions:
1. The Applicant shall implement the self-imposed noise mitigation measures, as identified in criterion “b.”
of FOF 9, to diminish or eliminate noise during project construction. In addition, a summary of any noise-
related complaints received and the response provided shall be provided to the City’s project manager
within five (5) days of receiving the complaint.
CITY OF RENTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT TO THE HEARING EXAMINER
EXHIBITS
Project Name:
Olympic Pipeline Noise Variance
Land Use File Number:
LUA20-000167, V-H
Date of Hearing
September 8, 2020
Staff Contact
Jill Ding
Senior Planner
Project Contact
Carla Woodworth,
GeoEngineers, inc.
17425 NE Union Hill Rd, Suite
250, Redmond, WA 98052
Project Location
Intersection of S 132nd St,
Renton Ave S, and 84th
Ave S
The following exhibits are included with the Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner:
Exhibit 1: Staff Report to the Hearing Examiner
Exhibit 2: Franchise Application and Construction Plan Set
Exhibit 3: Traffic Control Plan
Exhibit 4: Variance Justification