ONAC was established to study noise and its effects on public health and welfare, and to consult with other federal agencies on noise-related issues. Among ONAC's responsibilities were to determine noise effects at various levels, to project growth in noise levels over time, and to determine the psychological effects of noise on humans. The absence of EPA in the airport noise debate is striking in many respects. FAA's mandates involve overseeing the operation of the national aviation system, while EPA is more traditionally responsible for matters of public health. Each year, new studies show potential links between extremely high noise levels and health and quality of life, ranging from sleep disturbance and task interruption to a variety of potential cardiovascular and psychological impacts.
More study is certainly necessary.
Unfortunately, without adequate funding to conduct independent research, EPA has been largely unable to rebut FAA arguments.