An Act to extend provisions of the Noise Control Act of 1972 for one year, and for other purposes.
PL 95-609 (S.3083), enacted 11/08/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-609—NOV. 8, 1978 
92 STAT. 3079 
Public Law 95-609 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To extend provisions of the Noise Control Act of 1972 for one year, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Sermte and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "Quiet Communities Act of 1978". 
SEC. 2. Section 14 of the Noise Control Act of 1972 is amended to 
read as follows: 
"QUIET COMMUNITIES, RESEARCH, PUBLIC INFORMATION 
"SEC. 14. To promote the development of effective State and local 
noise control programs, to provide an adequate Federal noise control 
research program designed to meet the objectives of this Act, and to 
otherwise carry out the policy of this Act, the Administrator shall, 
in cooperation with other Federal agencies and through the use of 
grants, contracts, and direct Federal actions— 
"(a) develop and disseminate information and educational 
materials to all segments of the public on the public health and 
other effects of noise and the most effective means for noise con-
trol, through the use of materials for school curricula, volunteer 
organizations, radio and television programs, publication, and 
other means; 
"(b) conduct or finance research directly or with any public 
or private organization or any person on the effects, measurement, 
and control of noise, including but not limited to— 
"(1) investigation of the psychological and physiological 
effects of noise on humans and the effects of noise on domestic 
animals, wildlife, and property, and the determination of 
dose/response relationships suitable for use in decision-
making, with special emphasis on the nonauditory effects of 
noise; 
•' 
"(2) investigation, development, and demonstration of 
noise control technology for products subject to possible 
regulation under sections 6,7, and 8 of this Act; 
"(3) investigation, development, and demonstration of 
monitoring equipment and other technology especially suited 
for use by State and local noise control programs; 
"(4) investigation of the economic impact of noise on 
property and human activities; and 
:-, 
"(5) investigation and demonstration of the use of eco-
nomic incentives (including emission charges) in the control 
of noise; 
"(c) administer a nationwide Quiet Communities Program 
which shall include, but not be limited to— 
"(1) grants to States, local governments, and authorized 
regional planning agencies for the purpose of— 
"(A) identifying and determining the nature and 
extent of the noise problem within the subject jurisdic-
tion ; 
Nov. 8. 1978 
[S. 3083] 
Quiet 
Communities Act 
of 1978. 
42 use 4901 
note. 
42 use 4913. 
42 use 4905, 
4906 note, 4907. 
92 STAT. 3080 
PUBLIC LAW 95-609—NOV. 8, 1978 
"(B) planning, developing, and establishing a noise 
control capacity in such jurisdiction, including purchas-
y 
' 
ing initial equipment; 
"(C) developing abatement plans for areas around 
. , 
major transportation facilities (including airports, high-
ways, and rail yards) and other major stationary sources 
of noise, and, where appropriate, for the facility or source 
itself; and, 
"(D) evaluating techniques for controlling noise 
(including institutional arrangements) and demonstrat-
^ - _ 
ing the best available techniques in such jurisdiction; 
"(2) purchase of monitoring and other equipment for loan 
to State and local noise control programs to meet special 
• 
' 
needs or assist in the beginning implementation of a noise 
control program or project; 
"(3) development and implementation of a quality assur-
ance program for equipment and monitoring procedures of 
State and local noise control programs to help communities 
assure that their data collection activities are accurate; 
"(4) conduct of studies and demonstrations to determine 
the resource and personnel needs of States and local govern-
ments required for the establishment and implementation of 
effective noise abatement and control programs; and 
"(5) development of educational and training materials 
and programs, including national and regional workshops, 
; ;j 
to support State and local noise abatement and control 
programs; 
except that no actions, plans or programs hereunder shall be incon-
sistent with existing Federal authority under this Act to regulate 
sources of noise in interstate commerce; 
"(d) develop and implement a national noise environmental 
assessment program to identify trends in noise exposure and 
response, ambient levels, and compliance data and to determine 
otherwise the effectiveness of noise abatement actions through the 
collection of physical, social, and human response data; 
"(e) establish regional technical assistance centers which use 
the capabilities of university and private organizations to assist 
State and local noise control programs; 
"(f) provide technical assistance to State and local govern-
or, 
ments to facilitate their development and enforcement of noise 
control, including direct onsite assistance of agency or other per-
sonnel with technical expertise, and preparation of model State 
or local legislation for noise control; and 
"(g) provide for the maximum use in programs assisted under 
this section of senior citizens and persons eligible for participa-
42 use 3001 
tion in programs under the Older Americans Act.", 
note. 
SEC. 3. The fourth sentence of section 611(c)(1) of the Federal 
49 use 1431. 
Aviation Act, as amended by section 7 of the Noise Control Act of 
42 use 4906 
1972, is amended by striking "a reasonable time" and inserting in 
note- 
lieu thereof "ninety days", and by adding before the period "and a 
detailed analysis of and response to all documentation or other infor-
mation submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency with such 
proposed regulations". 
PUBLIC LAW 95-609—NOV. 8, 1978 
92 STAT. 3081 
SEC. 4. Section 11(a) of the Noise Control Act of 1972 is amended 42 USC 4910. 
by inserting "(1)" after "(a)" and by adding the following new 
paragraph: 
"(2) Any person who violates paragraph (1), (3), (5), or (6) of Penalty, 
subsection (a) of section 10 of this Act shall be subject to a civil 
penalty not to exceed $10,000 per day of such violation". 
SEC. 5. Section 6 of the Noise Control Act of 1972 is amended by 42 USC 4905. 
adding the following subsection: 
"(f) At any time after the promulgation of regulations respecting 
a product under this section, a State or political subdivision thereof 
may petition the Administrator to revise such standard on the 
grounds that a more stringent standard under subsection (c) of this 
section is necessary to protect the public health and welfare. The 
Administration shall publish notice of receipt of such petition in the 
Federal Eegister and shall within ninety days of receipt of such peti-
tion respond by (1) publication of proposed revised regulations in 
accordance with subsection (c)(3) of this section, or (2) publication 
in the Federal Register of a decision not to publish such proposed 
revised regulations at that time, together with a detailed explanation 
for such decision.". 
SEC. 6. Section 19 of the Noise Control Act of 1972 is amended to 42 USC 4918. 
read as follows: 
Notice, 
publication in 
Federal Register. 
"AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
"SEC. 19. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
u , 
Act (other than for research and development) $15,000,000 for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1979.". 
SEC. 7. (a) Section 1002(a) (4) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is 42 USC 6901. 
amended by deleting the hyphen between the words "solid" and "waste" 
in the last line. 
(b) Section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by— 42 USC 6903. 
(1) revising paragraph (8) by striking out everything after 
"improvement of land"; 
(2) revising paragraph (10) by striking out "disposal" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "management"; 
(3) by revising paragraph (29) to read as follows: 
"(29) The term 'solid waste management facility' includes— "Solid waste 
"(A) any resource recovery system or component thereof, management 
"(B) any system, program, or facility for resource con- facility-" 
servation, and 
"(C) any facility for the collection, source separation, 
storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment or dis-
posal of solid wastes, including hazardous wastes, whether 
. ' ' 
such facility is associated with facilities generating such 
wastes or otherwise.". 
(c) Section 1008 (a) (3) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6907. 
by striking out "title IV" and inserting in lieu thereof "subtitle D". 
(d) Section 1008 (b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by 
striking ", pursuant to this section" and by inserting after "suggested 
guidelines" each time it appears the phrase "or proposed regulations 
under this Act". 
(e) Section 2003 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by 42 USC 6913. 
inserting "Federal agencies," after "to provide". 
39-194 O—80—pt. 3 
29 : QL3 
92 STAT. 3082 
PUBLIC LAW 95-609—NOV. 8, 1978 
42 use 6922. 
(f) Section 3002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by— 
(1) revising paragraph (5) by striking out the semicolon after 
"subtitle" and substituting a comma, and by striking out "and" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "or pursuant to title I of the Marine 
33 use 1411. 
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (86 Stat. 1052); and"; 
and 
(2) revising paragraph (6) by adding a close parenthesis after 
"subtitle" the first time it appears. 
42 use 6923. 
(g) Section 3003 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by— 
(1) revising subsection (a) (4) by striking out the period after 
"subtitle" and substituting a comma, and by adding at the end 
thereof "or pursuant to title I of the Marine Protection, Research, 
and Sanctuaries Act (86 Stat. 1052)."; and 
(2) revising subsection (b) by striking out "subtitle" after 
• ' • •
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"the regulations promulgated by the Administrator under this" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "section". 
42 use 6925. 
(h) Section 3005(a) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 
by inserting "treatment, storage, or" after "and upon and after such 
date the". 
42 use 6926. 
(i) Section 3006(c) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 
(1) striking out "required for" wherever it appears in the sub-
section and inserting in lieu thereof "of"; and 
(2) inserting the word "may" immediately after "3005," and 
before "submit". 
42 use 6927. 
(j) Section 3007(a) (1) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 
by striking out "or disposed of" and inserting in lieu thereof "disposed 
of, or transported from". 
42 use 6928. 
(k) Section 3008 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by— 
(1) revising subsection (d) (1) to read as follows: 
"(1) transports any hazardous waste identified or listed under 
"' '* 
"
^ 
this subtitle to a facility which does not have a permit under 
section 3005 (or 3006 in the case of a State program), or pursuant 
to title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries 
Act (86 Stat. 1052),"; and 
(2) revising subsection (d) (2) to read as follows: 
" (2) treats, stores, or disposes of any hazardous waste identified 
or listed under this subtitle without having obtained a permit 
V. ' 
under section 3005 (or 3006 in the case of a State program) or 
pursuant to title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and 
Sanctuaries Act (86 Stat. 1052)." 
42 use 6947. 
(1) Section 4007(C) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 
by redesignating subsection " (C)" as " (c)". 
42 use 6961. 
(m) Section 6001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by 
inserting "or management" between "disposal" and "of solid waste". 
42 use 6962. 
(n) Section 6002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by— 
^u • 
(1) deleting "(A)" after "(1)" in subsection (c) and changing 
"(B)" and "(C)" to "(2)" and "(3)", respectively; and 
changing "(i)", "(ii)", and "(iii)" to "(A)", "(B)", and "(C)", 
respectively; 
(2) in subsection (c) (3) as redesignated, striking "Contract-
ing" and inserting in lieu thereof "After the date specified in 
r{f,i :>E'! -I 
any applicable guidelines prepared pursuant to subsection (e) 
of this section, contracting"; and 
PUBLIC LAW 95-609—NOV. 8, 1978 
92 STAT. 3083 
(3) inserting in the second sentence of subsection (e) after 
s, 
"containing such materials" the phrase "and with respect to cer-
tification by vendors of the percentage of recovered materials 
used ". 
(o) Section 6004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6964. 
by— 
(1) revising subsection (a) (1) (A) by striking out "disposal" 
and inserting m lieu thereof "management"; 
• 
(2) revising subsection (a) (1) (B) by striking out "disposal" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "management"; and 
(3) revising subsection (b) by striking out "Secretary" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "Administrator". 
(p) Section 7002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6972. 
b y -
(1) revising subsection (c) by striking out "section 212" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "subtitle C"; and 
(2) revising subsection (e) by striking out "requiring" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "require". 
(q) Section 7003 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6973. 
by striking out "for" before "contributing to the alleged disposal". 
(r) Section 7007 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6977. 
b y -
(1) revising subsection (b) (1) (A) by striking out "disposal" 
and inserting "management"; and by striking out "resources" 
and inserting "resource"; 
(2) revising subsection (b)(1)(B) by striking out "disposal" 
and inserting "management"; and 
(3) revising subsection (c) (3) by striking out "disposal" and 
inserting "management" in lieu thereof. 
(s) Section 8001(a) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6981. 
b y -
(1) revising paragraph (2) by striking out "disposal" and 
inserting "management" in lieu thereof; and 
(2) revising paragraph (13) by inserting "treatment," after 
"for purpose of". 
(t) Section 8002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended 42 USC 6982. 
by— 
(1) revising paragraph (1) of subsection (g) by inserting a 
comma between "shale" and "liquefaction"; 
(2) revising paragraph (1) of suteection (j) by inserting 
"the Secretary of Energy, the Chairman of the Council of Eco-
nomic Advisors," before "and a representative of the Office of 
Management and Budget,"; 
(3) revising paragraph (2) of subsection (j) by striking "(2) 
(D)" and inserting " (1) (D)" in lieu thereof; 
(4) revising paragraph (3) of subsection (j) by striking "(2) 
(D)" and inserting " (1)" in lieu thereof; and 
(5) revising subsection (1) by striking out "required under 
subsection (a), (h), (i) and (j)" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"required under subsections (a), (h), and (i)". 
(u) Section 8003(a)(3) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is 42 USC 6983. 
amended by striking out "discarded materials" and inserting "solid 
waste" in lieu thereof. 
92 STAT. 3084 
PUBLIC LAW 95-609—NOV. 8, 1978 
42 use 6984. 
(v) Section 8004(a)(1) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is 
amended by striking out "discarded material" and inserting "solid 
waste" in lieu thereof. 
Aircraft noise 
SEC. 8. (a) The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator 
effects, joint 
of the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly study the air-
study, 
craft noise effects from an airport on communities located in a State 
49 use 1431 
other than the State in which the airport is located. The criteria to 
°°*®- 
be used in selecting the airport to be studied shall include: 
(1) the airport shall be operated by a State, a unit of general 
purpose local government of a State, or a special purpose entity 
' I constituted for the purpose of operating an airport, and 
(2) the airport shall have a point on the airport boundary 
••"••^ '•' 
within one nautical mile from a State boundary, and 
(3) the airport shall have had in excess of sixty thousand 
. scheduled air carrier departures during the preceding calendar 
year, 
(b) The study shall be conducted in cooperation with the airport 
operator, appropriate Federal, State, and local officials, and the appro-
priate Metropolitan Planning Organization. 
Report to 
(c) The Secretary and the Administrator shall prepare and submit 
Congress. 
to Congress a report within nine months of the conclusion of the 
study, but no later than twenty-four months after enactment of this 
section. 
Approved November 8, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1171 accompanying H.R. 12647 (Comm. on Interstate and 
Foreign Commerce). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-875 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
July 19, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 10, H.R. 12647 considered and passed House, passage vacated, and S. 3083, 
amended, passed in lieu. 
Oct. 13, Senate concurred in House amendments.