Texans want new town to escape crypto mine noise
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
Photo credit: Jahoo Clouseau
The Texas Tribune reports that noise from a new cryptocurrency mine has pushed rural homeowners in Texas to try to incorporate their own town. Living on unincorporated land means residents are bound by county and state zoning and noise regulations. A crypto mine operator opened a facility nearby, and the noise is problematic. The facility’s neighbors complain that the continuous noise is like “sleeping with a lawnmower under one’s pillow.” The noise level is just under the state’s 85 decibel (dB) limit. People can’t enjoy their rural surroundings, and many have suffered adverse health effects.
That state limit is likely based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s recommended exposure level for occupational noise: 85 A-weighted* decibels (dBA), which does not prevent hearing loss in workers and isn’t safe for the public. The occupational noise limit is based on eight hours of exposure for five days per week, 50 weeks per year, across a 40-year work history — not for continuous high-level noise every second of the day. The Environmental Protection Agency’s safe noise exposure levels are much lower, only 55 dBA for outdoor noise and 45 dBA for indoor noise.
Most economists think that cryptocurrencies have no legitimate purpose, being used largely for unregulated commerce including criminal activities. According to the Tribune, officials in Texas like cryptocurrency facilities because they provide jobs and tax revenues. Texas leads the nation in the number of cryptocurrency facilities. Data processing facilities in general, especially crypto mines, are also bad for the environment as they require large amounts of water and electricity.
We hope the Hood County residents are successful in incorporating their town, restricting the facility and getting back their rural quiet. A quieter part of Hood County, as part of a quieter world, will be a better and healthier place for all.
*A-weighting adjusts unweighted noise levels to approximate the frequencies heard in human speech.