MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - A recently-completed sound level audit survey conducted at the Rocky Mountain Motorsports (RMM) facility east of Carstairs found no violations of existing Mountain View County sound regulations, say officials.
A report on the survey was presented during a recent Mountain View County regularly scheduled council meeting.
RMM operates under a development permit issued by the county.
“Since the start of the 2024 season starting in April, the county received a total of 38 complaints for days in May (11), June (13), July (12) and August (2),” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“None of the noise complaints reviewed by administration exceeded the noise limits.”
The county contracted HGC Engineering to conduct a noise survey to determine the sound levels at the property.
“MVC requested that sound monitoring be conducted at two locations to determine the sound level compliance of the racetrack with the established sound limits. Sound level measures were completed between July 5 and 15, capturing several different uses at the racetrack.”
The days selected for the survey included motorcycle days, race days, member lapping, as well as availability of equipment.
Sound monitoring was conducted at two locations near the racetrack, using two Svante 977 sound level monitors, and calibration of the sound level meters was verified using a portable sound level calibrator prior to the deployment and during retrieval of the equipment.
Sound limits for the RMM site are set in Section 17.18, sub-section 6 of the land use bylaw, which states, in part, that “Noise generated by this (RMM) development at site boundaries shall not exceed 65 decibels measured between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day of the week including statutory holidays.”
Monitoring at one of the sites from July 5 to July 14 found maximum sound levels of 50, 52, 54, 53, 57, 53, 56, 51, 49 and 55, while the second monitor found maximum sound levels of 50, 50, 51, 49, 53, 52, 51, 48, 48 and 57.
In the survey report, officials concluded that, “The measurements indicate that sound levels produced during race activities at Rocky Mountain Motor Sports meets the applicable sound level limits established by Mountain View County.”
Council passed a motion accepting the report as information.