Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 167 - Pollution Control Agency
Chapter 7030 - NOISE POLLUTION CONTROL
GENERALLY
Part 7030.0020 - DEFINITIONS

Subpart 1. Application.

The terms used in this chapter have the meanings given them in this part.

Subp. 2. A-weighted.

"A-weighted" means a specific weighting of the sound pressure level for the purpose of determining the human response to sound. The specific weighting characteristics and tolerances are those given in American National Standards Institute S1.4-1983, section 5.1.

Subp. 3. Daytime.

"Daytime" means those hours from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Subp. 4. dB(A).

"dB(A)" means a unit of sound level expressed in decibels (dB) and A-weighted.

Subp. 5. Decibel.

"Decibel" means a unit of sound pressure level, abbreviated as dB.

Subp. 6. Impulsive noise.

"Impulsive noise" means either a single sound pressure peak (with either a rise time less than 200 milliseconds or total duration less than 200 milliseconds) or multiple sound pressure peaks (with either rise times less than 200 milliseconds or total duration less than 200 milliseconds) spaced at least by 200 millisecond pauses.

Subp. 7. L10.

"L10" means the sound level, expressed in dB(A), which is exceeded ten percent of the time for a one hour survey, as measured by test procedures approved by the commissioner.

Subp. 8. L50.

"L50" means the sound level, expressed in dB(A), which is exceeded 50 percent of the time for a one hour survey, as measured by test procedures approved by the commissioner.

Subp. 9. Municipality.

"Municipality" means a county; a city; a town; a regional planning and development commission established under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473; the metropolitan council; or other governmental subdivision of the state responsible by law for controlling or restricting land use within its jurisdiction.

Subp. 10. Nighttime.

"Nighttime" means those hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Subp. 11. Person.

"Person" means any human being, any municipality or other governmental or political subdivision or other public department or agency, any public or private corporation, any partnership, firm, association, or other organization, any receiver, trustee, assignee, agency, legal entity, other than a court of law, or any legal representative of any of the foregoing, but does not include the agency.

Subp. 12. Sound pressure level.

"Sound pressure level", in decibels, means 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure to the reference pressure. The reference pressure shall be 20 micronewtons per square meter.