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Oak Ridge cites Noble Metals and Carbon Rivers sites for code violations; administrative hearings set for Nov. 19
Summary
City code staff cited Noble Metals for noise ordinance violations after decibel readings exceeded an 80 dBA limit; Carbon Rivers (Powerhouse site) was also cited for weeds, trash and lack of required water/sewer for an occupied building; both firms were scheduled for administrative hearings on Nov. 19, and staff outlined mitigation steps and ongoing TDEC coordination.
Oak Ridge — City code enforcement officials told the council that two industrial sites have been formally cited and will appear before the city's administrative hearing officer on Nov. 19.
Jennifer Williams (staff) reported that new noise equipment recorded decibel readings above the 80 dBA maximum at Noble Metals on Sept. 30, and that a meter placed on a Clifton Circle resident's back deck on Oct. 1 recorded even higher readings. "We did not have any violations until September 30," Williams said, and staff issued a notice of violation that led to the administrative citation. She added that the administrative hearing officer's authority is limited to fines.
Lisa Crumpler, the city building and codes official, told the council the property-line readings that prompted the citation were "just slightly over 80 decibels." Staff described mitigation steps Noble Metals proposed — moving some materials, scheduling certain loading activities for afternoon hours rather than early-morning hours, and installing shielding for backup beepers — and said some adjustments have reduced certain sounds.
Separately, staff reported that the Carbon Rivers (Powerhouse) site was cited for weeds, trash and for operating a building without required water and sewer connections; that matter was also cited to the administrative hearing officer with a Nov. 19 date. Williams said Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) continues inspections and that the city is maintaining communication with TDEC regarding ongoing violations.
Residents and councilmembers expressed frustration with persistent noise and asked staff for more thorough, multi-location sound studies over time rather than single incidents. Councilmembers pressed for on-site inspections and records of prior visits; staff said planning and development staff have visited the Noble Metals site five to seven times over the last one to two years and that the codes inspector had recently visited before issuing the citation.
What’s next: Noble Metals and Carbon Rivers are scheduled for administrative hearings on Nov. 19; fines are a possible outcome if violations are upheld, and staff will continue to work with the businesses to identify and mitigate noise sources and other code violations.
