Community Noise Assessment of a Proposed Semi-Enclosed Small Arms Range Facility at Willow Grove Air Reserve Facility, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

This report predicts the maximum Lmax community noise levels generated from weapons firing at a proposed small arms range at the Willow Grove Air Reserve Facility on Willow Grove Naval Air Station PA, and compares these levels to local noise ordinances. Present noise levels at Willow Grove exceed allowable levels for Horsham and Warrington township ordinances. Wind noise measured with a standard foam wind screen over the microphone dominated the low frequencies 1.6-300 Hz and exceeded the noise ordinances. Willow Grove traffic noise and other existing noise sources exceed the noise ordinances at frequencies above 300 Hz. Noise measured at a firing range of the proposed design at Grand Forks AFB during weapons firing M-16, M-60, and M-9 pistol gave noise levels predominantly in the 500-8000 Hz frequency range. Noise levels in these frequencies exceeded the Willow Grove community noise ordinances and existing Willow Grove noise levels. This report also gives maximum noise levels expected for all angles surrounding the standard Air Force small arms range design as built at Grand Forks AFB. These data are available as a reference for siting other small arms ranges where community noise ordinances use Lmax noise levels.