II 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3076 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct studies of natural 

soundscape preservation in the National Park Service. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 4, 2010 

Ms. CANTWELL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct studies 

of natural soundscape preservation in the National Park 

Service. 

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 ‘‘Silence Helps Us Hear 

5 Act of 2010’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis9 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 

10 Aviation Administration. 


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1 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di3 rector of the National Park Service. 

4 SEC. 3. STUDIES OF NATURAL SOUNDSCAPE PRESERVA5 TION. 

6 (a) STUDY OF LEAST DEGRADED NATIONAL PARK

7 SERVICE NATURAL SOUNDSCAPES.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 

9 a study to identify National Park Service natural 

10 soundscape values and resources, as defined by poli11 cies 4.9 and 8.2 of the 2006 Management Policies 

12 of the National Park Service. 

13 (2) IDENTIFICATION OF LEASE DEGRADED

14 SOUNDSCAPES.—In conducting the study under 

15 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall analyze and iden16 tify National Park Service natural soundscapes that 

17 have been the least degraded by— 

18 (A) unnatural sounds; and 

19 (B) undesirable sounds cause by humans. 

20 (3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—To the extent 

21 that the Secretary has identified aviation or aircraft 

22 noise as 1 of the sources of natural soundscapes 

23 degradation, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 

24 through the Administrator, shall provide technical 


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1 assistance to the Secretary in carrying out the study 

2 under paragraph (1). 

3 (b) STUDY OF PRESERVATION OF NATURAL

4 SOUNDSCAPE RESOURCES.—To the extent that the Sec5 retary has identified aviation or aircraft noise as 1 of the 

6 sources of National Park Service natural soundscapes deg7 radation, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary 

8 of Transportation (acting through the Administrator), 

9 shall conduct a study to identify methods to preserve the 

10 National Park Service natural soundscapes that have been 

11 the least degraded by— 

12 (1) unnatural sounds; and 

13 (2) undesirable sounds caused by humans. 

14 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

15 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

16 of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re17 port that— 

18 (1) describes the results of the studies con19 ducted under subsections (a) and (b) of section 3; 

20 and 

21 (2) includes any recommendations that the Sec22 retary determines to be appropriate. 


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1 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

3 as are necessary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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