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located. The language of the proposed rule is the same language <br />that appears in the existing rules except for condition 1 above. <br />The rule calls for a twenty decibel attenuation factor, whereas <br />the existing rule requires a thirty decibel attenuation factor. <br />Exterior to interior sound level attenuation is a factor of <br />building construction. It depends upon such things as building <br />wall thickness, insulation, and the window configuration. Noise <br />standards apply to the outdoor atmosphere and take into account <br />the fact that a person indoors will receive less noise than a <br />person standing outdoors because of the fact that the building <br />will attenuate noise. However, exterior to interior noise <br />attenuation is not the most important factor of the three factors <br />listed above. The other two factors are more important in <br />making a building acceptable when located in an area having <br />higher levels of outdoor noise. Specifically, a residence with <br />thick, insulated walls will not protect a person from outdoor <br />noise on a hot summer day or night unless the person can close <br />the windows. Therefore the rule specifies that the building must <br />have year-ror.nd climate control (i.e., air-conditioning). <br />Similarly, people who live in the residence will not be protected <br />from that outdoor noise if the building has areas intended to be <br />used for outdoor recreation. Because the exterior to interior <br />attenuation is not the most important factor in protecting <br />people, it was recommended during the discussions of the Agency's <br />