Common loons have bred on Deep Hole and Rolling Stone Lakes and have been
observed on Oak Lakv
Black terns occur on Rice Lake and presumably nest there. A great blue heron
rookery is located
southwest of the environmental study area. Old fields and brushy areas in
the environmental study
area provide habitat for marsh hawks, eastern bluebirds, grasshopper sparrows,
vesper sparrows, at
field sparrows.

NOISE AND VIBRATIONS

Noise
Background noise levels at homes and recreational sites potentially impacted
by construction and
operation noise were monitored by Exxon during July and March in 1977 and
1983 (Figure 2-12).
Seasonal monitoring was conducted to account for variations in noise levels
caused by changes in
foliage and local activities. Sound levels were recorded over a 16 minute
to 21 minute period three
times a day during daytime (7 AM to 6 PM), evening (6 PM to 10 PM), and nighttime
(10 PM to 7
AM). During 1977, sites 1 through 6 were monitored for baseline conditions
and in 1983 sites 7
through 10 were monitored.

During winter, natural sources of sound were wind, branches rustling, dogs
barking, birds, voices, an
water flowing over a small dam. Other noise sources included chain saws,
snowmobiles, traffic,
aircraft, and gunshots. During the summer, sources of sound were mainly from
human activities
associated with a picnic area and campground, voices, aircraft, traffic,
or natural sounds such as
wind, leaves, birds, and insects. At all locations, summer sound levels were
higher than those
reported during the winter mainly because of increased human activity. Daytime
sound levels (Ld),.
nighttime sound levels (Ln) and day-night sound levels (Ld n) monitored at
all locations in 1977 and
1983 for winter and summer are shown in Table 2-13.



Location
School'
Community
Mihalko Re.
Residence 3
Exxon Field
Webb Residi
Lake Meton
Rolling Stor
Ground Hen
St. John's I



                           Table 2-13
Daytime, Nighttime and Day-Night Equivalent Sound Levels (DBA)'
                           Winter                        Summer
                   Ld     Ln      Ld n           Ld     Ln      I
                   43     30      42             47     43
Center2           38      29      38             42     40
sidence'           39      24     38             44*     44
712 2              43*    35      44*            64      47     E
I Office2          42      38*    45             57*     27
.ence2             42*     20     40*            38      39
Lga3               45      42     49             48      41
ae Lake3           34      31     38             41      40
nlock Lake3        33      30     37             43      27
sake3              33      31     38             39      28



1  DBA = decibels, A-weighted
2 Monitored in 1977
3 Monitored in 1983
* Values were adjusted to reduce the contribution from short duration, high
sound pressure level
    sources.

In addition, noise levels at three residences labeled A, B, and C were estimated
for each of the thri
locations by using measured values from other locations where land use was
similar. The estimated
sound levels at the three sites are presented in Table 2-14.



    Location
A) North Shore, Little Sand
B) East Shore, Ground Heml
C) Keith Siding Road Just W
    Soo Line Railroad



               Table 2-14
Summary of Equivalent Sound Levels (DBA)
  at Three Additional Baseline Locations
                   Winter
            Ld     Ln      Ld n         I
Lake        42     20   ' 40            v
Lock Lake   33     30      37
rest of     43     39      46           i



Ld
38
43
46



Summer
Ln     Ld n
39     45
27     42
43     50



- 80 -



1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)



L d n
50
47
50*
62
55*
45
49
47
42
39