I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4308

To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the

Environmental Protection Agency.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 28, 1996

Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. SKAGGS, Mr. FROST, Mr. YATES, Mrs.

MORELLA, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. NADLER, Mr. MANTON, Mr. SCHUMER,

and Mr. PALLONE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control

in the Environmental Protection Agency.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Quiet Communities

5 Act of 1996’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds that:
2

•HR 4308 IH

1 (1) For too many Americans, noise from air2 craft, vehicular traffic, and a variety of other

3 sources is a constant source of torment. In fact,

4 nearly 20,000,000 Americans are exposed to noise

5 levels that can lead to psychological and physio6 logical damage, and another 40,000,000 people are

7 exposed to noise levels that cause sleep or work dis8 ruption.

9 (2) Chronic exposure to noise has been linked

10 to increased risk of cardiovascular problems, strokes,

11 and nervous disorders. Excessive noise also causes

12 sleep deprivation and task interruptions, both of

13 which pose untold costs on society in diminished

14 worker productivity.

15 (3) Pursuant to authorities granted under the

16 Clean Air Act of 1970, the Noise Control Act of

17 1972, and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978, the

18 Environmental Protection Agency established an Of19 fice of Noise Abatement and Control. Its responsibil20 ities included promulgating noise emission stand21 ards, requiring product labeling, facilitating the de22 velopment of low emission products, coordinating

23 Federal noise reduction programs, assisting State

24 and local abatement efforts, and promoting noise

25 education and research. However, funding for the
3

•HR 4308 IH

1 Office of Noise Abatement and Control was termi2 nated in 1982 and no funds have been provided

3 since.

4 (4) Because the Environmental Protection

5 Agency remains legally responsible for enforcing reg6 ulations issued under the Noise Control Act of 1972

7 even though funding for these activities were termi8 nated, and because the Noise Control Act of 1972

9 prohibits State and local governments from regulat10 ing noise sources in many situations, noise abate11 ment programs across the country lie dormant.

12 (5) As population growth and air and vehicular

13 traffic continue to increase, noise pollution is likely

14 to become an even greater problem in the future.

15 The health and welfare of our citizens demands that

16 the Environmental Protection Agency, the lead Fed17 eral agency for the protection of public health and

18 welfare, once again assume a role in combating noise

19 pollution.

20 SEC. 3. REESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF NOISE ABATE21 MENT AND CONTROL.

22 (a) REESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the

23 Environmental Protection Agency shall reestablish within

24 the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Noise

25 Abatement and Control. This office shall be responsible
4

•HR 4308 IH

1 for coordinating Federal noise abatement activities, updat2 ing or developing new noise standards, providing technical

3 assistance to local communities, and promoting research

4 and education on the impacts of noise pollution. In meet5 ing these responsibilities, the Environmental Protection

6 Agency shall emphasize abatement approaches that rely

7 on local and State activity, market incentives, and coordi8 nation with other public and private agencies.

9 (b) STUDY.—Within the funds made available for the

10 Office of Noise Abatement and Control, the Administrator

11 shall conduct a study of airport noise and its physiological

12 effects on surrounding communities in major metropolitan

13 areas. Such study shall include recommendations to the

14 Federal Aviation Administration on new measures that

15 can be implemented to mitigate the impact of aircraft

16 noise on metropolitan areas and surrounding communities.

17 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

18 There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000

19 for each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, and 1999, and

20 $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 and 2001.

Æ