Our client, the Arlington Club, had received an ECB violation that alleged that their air conditioning equipment had exceeded the noise code limits. The club appeared at the hearing without an attorney, represented only by the club's managing partner and Alan Fierstein of Acoustilog.
Mr. Fierstein presented evidence that the ECB inspector's measurement was made improperly - specifically, that the ECB meter was overdue for its mandatory calibration and that the measurement was taken under high wind conditions that are known to contaminate noise readings.
The Judge credited Mr. Fierstein's testimony and dismissed the violation with no penalty.
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD
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This page displays the text of the decision. A scan of the paper decision notice can be found here. |
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HEARING LOCATION:
Environmental Control Board
66 John Street
10th Floor
New York, NY 10038
(2l2) 361-I400
Method of Appearance
Live Hearing
To: ARLINGTON CLUB- I032 LEXINGTON ASSOCIATES
I032 LEXINGTON AVENUE
NY, NY I0021 |
DECISION AND ORDER
Violation #: 000269076X (I NOV)
Hearing Date: January I6, 2013
City Of New York v. I032 LEXINGTON ASSOC -
LLC LLC aka Arlington Club |
Total Civil Penalty: $0.00
1 Notice(s) ofViolation (NOV(s)) was/were issued to the Respondent. On the record before me, and upon the Further Fact/Conclusions of Law stated below, I find as follows and, where applicable, order payment and compliance.
NOV: 000269076X
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE: I032 LEXINGTON AVENUE MANHATTAN
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 11/29/2012
ISSUING OFFICER/AGENCY: 1160 BAR
ECB CODE: BN29
CHARGE: A.C. 24-227(A)
DISPOSITION: DISMISSED. CIVIL PENALTY IMPOSED: $0.00
FURTHER FINDINGS OF FACT/CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
NOV: 000269076X A.C. 24-227(A)
Phil Licitra appeared on behalf of petitioner and submitted the issuing inspector's report (Exhibit 1) to charge that respondent had operated or permitted to be operated a circulation device in excess of 42dB(A) in violation of Section 24-227(a) ofthe NYC Noise Control Code. .
Alan Fierstein, in-house acoustic consultant, and Paul Goldstein, managing partner, appeared on behalf of I032 Lexington Associates LLC aka Arlington Club, the named respondent. Mr. Fierstein testified that: pursuant to the back of petitioner's (Exhibit I) the noise meter used to take readings had last been calibrated on 12/23/11 and was due to be calibrated on 6/23/ 12; at the time of issuance, 11/29/ 12, the meter was more than five months out of calibration; also on the back of the issuing inspector's report states that the weather was clear, but does not state anything about wind conditions. Mr. Fierstein submitted: weather history for Central Park on 11/29/ 12 taken trom the intemet (Exhibit A) to show that at time of the readings the wind speed was 8.1 mph with gust speed of 20.7 mph; Meteorological Constraints on Noise Measurements (Exhibit B) stating that "wind speeds over 5 m/s (11 mph) may begin to contaminate noise measurements"; and Community Noise Enforcement for NYC DEP by Rutgers (Exhibit C) stating that "it is generally advised to not conduct sound level measurements when the wind speed exceeds 12 mph unless the manufacturer of the meter specifies otherwise."
Based on the foregoing, I find that the readings taken by petitioner at the time of issuance with the meter that had not been calibrated up to date were questionable and therefore, do not substantiate the charge. Accordingly, this NOV is dismissed.
TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY: $0.00
January 22, 2013
Robin Zupnick, Administrative Law Judge
New York City Environmental Control Board
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