I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2539 
To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the 
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2017 
Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. 
SUOZZI, Ms. NORTON, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. CAPUANO, 
Miss RICE of New York, Mr. SMITH of Washington, and Ms. ESHOO) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and 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, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Quiet Communities 
Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that: 
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(1) Approximately 28,000,000 Americans are 
afflicted with some hearing loss and it has been esti-
mated that 10,000,000 of these impairments are at 
least partially attributable to damage from exposure 
to noise. 
(2) For millions of Americans, noise from air-
craft, vehicular traffic, and a variety of other 
sources is a constant source of torment. Millions of 
Americans are exposed to noise levels that can lead 
to sleep loss, psychological and physiological damage, 
and work disruption. 
(3) Chronic exposure to noise has been linked 
to increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, learn-
ing deficits in children, stress, and diminished qual-
ity of life. 
(4) Excessive noise leading to sleep deprivation 
and task interruptions can result in untold costs on 
society in diminished worker productivity. 
(5) Pursuant to authorities granted under the 
Clean Air Act of 1970, the Noise Control Act of 
1972, and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978, the 
Environmental Protection Agency established an Of-
fice of Noise Abatement and Control. Its responsibil-
ities included promulgating noise emission stand-
ards, requiring product labeling, facilitating the de-
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velopment of low emission products, coordinating 
Federal noise reduction programs, assisting State 
and local abatement efforts, and promoting noise 
education and research. However, funding for the 
Office of Noise Abatement and Control was termi-
nated in 1982 and no funds have been provided 
since. 
(6) Because the Environmental Protection 
Agency remains legally responsible for enforcing reg-
ulations issued under the Noise Control Act of 1972 
even though funding for these activities were termi-
nated, and because the Noise Control Act of 1972 
prohibits State and local governments from regu-
lating noise sources in many situations, noise abate-
ment programs across the country lie dormant. 
(7) As population growth and air and vehicular 
traffic continue to increase, noise pollution is likely 
to become an even greater problem in the future. 
The health and welfare of our citizens demands that 
the Environmental Protection Agency, the lead Fed-
eral agency for the protection of public health and 
welfare, once again assume a role in combating noise 
pollution. 
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SEC. 3. REESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF NOISE ABATE-
MENT AND CONTROL. 
(a) REESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall reestablish within 
the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Noise 
Abatement and Control. 
(b) DUTIES.—The responsibilities of the Office in-
clude the following: 
(1) To promote the development of effective 
State and local noise control programs by providing 
States with technical assistance and grants to de-
velop the programs, including the purchase of equip-
ment for local communities. 
(2) To carry out a national noise control re-
search program to assess the impacts of noise from 
varied noise sources on mental and physical health. 
(3) To carry out a national noise environmental 
assessment program to identify trends in noise expo-
sure and response, ambient levels, and compliance 
data and to determine the effectiveness of noise 
abatement actions, including actions for areas 
around major transportation facilities (such as high-
ways, railroad facilities, and airports). 
(4) To develop and disseminate information and 
educational materials to the public on the mental 
and physical effects of noise and the most effective 
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means for noise control through the use of materials 
for school curricula, volunteer organizations, radio 
and television programs, publications, and other 
means. 
(5) To develop educational and training mate-
rials and programs, including national and regional 
workshops, to support State and local noise abate-
ment and control programs. 
(6) To establish regional technical assistance 
centers which use the capabilities of university and 
private organizations to assist State and local noise 
control programs. 
(7) To undertake an assessment of the effec-
tiveness of the Noise Control Act of 1972. 
(c) PREFERRED APPROACHES.—In carrying out its 
duties under this section, the Office shall emphasize noise 
abatement approaches that rely on local and State activi-
ties, market incentives, and coordination with other public 
and private agencies. 
(d) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Using funds made available 
to the Office, the Administrator shall carry out a 
study of airport noise. The Administrator shall carry 
out the study by entering into contracts or other 
agreements with independent scientists with exper-
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