I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1116
To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 20, 2001
Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. FROST, Mr. SMITH of Wash-
ington, Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. WEINER, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr.
NADLER, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. SHAYS, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. HYDE, Mr. ABER-
CROMBIE, Mr. STARK, Ms. SOLIS, and Mr. CROWLEY) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion 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 2001’’.
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-
tise in noise measurements, noise effects, and noise
abatement techniques to conduct the study.
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall examine the
selection of noise measurement methodologies by the
Federal Aviation Administration, the threshold of
noise at which health impacts are felt, and the effec-
tiveness of noise abatement programs at airports
around the Nation.
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator
shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of
the study, together with specific recommendations
on new measures that can be implemented to miti-
gate the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding
communities.
SEC. 4. GRANTS UNDER QUIET COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.
Section 14(c)(1) of the Noise Control Act of 1972
(42 U.S.C. 4913(c)(1)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and,’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(E) establishing and implementing train-
ing programs on use of noise abatement equip-
ment; and
‘‘(F) 
implementing 
noise 
abatement
plans;’’.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated for each of
fiscal years 2002 through 2006 $21,000,000 for activities
of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control reestab-
lished under section 3.
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