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Most useful EPA documents
1976 Reassessment of Noise Concerns of Other Nations - Volume II - Country-By-Country Reviews
Carl Modig; Ghalib Khouri; John Stepanchuk; George Cerny
August 1976
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A review of noise abatement programs around the world (except U.S.) including laws, regulations, guidelines, criteria, governmental organizations, plans, research, etc., with bibliography and contact addresses to facilitate further inquiry. Volume II contains country reviews of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Switzerland, West Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Soviet Union, Latin American countries, South Africa, and Spain. (Volume I contains a summary and a topic-by-topic review.) Each country eview is structured around an outline: (1) national laws, regulations and guidelines (occupational, emissions limits, zoning, other), (2) provincial and local framework, (3) enforcement and institutional data.
1976 Reassessment of Noise Concerns of Other Nations - Volume I - Summary and Selected topics
Carl Modig; Ghalib Khouri; John Stepanchuk; George Cerny
August 1976
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A review of the noise abatement programs of countries around the world (except the U.S.) including laws, regulations, guidelines, criteria, research, governmental organization, plans, etc., with bibliography and contact addresses to facilitate further inquiry. Also includes international organizations involved in noise control. Both environmental and occupational noise are covered. Topics: Community noise, airport, aircraft, surface transportation, construction noise, occupational noise, noise from factories, noise in buildings. A summary finds that compared to a similar 1971 review, the U.S. has "caught up", information has increased geometrically, many nations now compensate citizens for noise from airports or roads, and noise limits in industry are becoming stricter. Vol. II contains country-by-country reviews.
The Calibration of Hydrophones for Use in Medical Ultrasonic Fields - A Review
R.A. Smith
September 1986
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A growing concern for the safety of patients exposed to medical ultrasound has highlighted the importance of the characterisation of medical ultrasound equipment in terms of absolute acoustical parameters. To meet this need, various types of miniature piezoelectric hydrophone have been produced to measure the temporal and spatial distribution of acoustic pressure in the ultrasound field. However, in order to measure absolute acoustic pressure, the receiving sensitivity of the hydrophone must be determined over a range of frequencies. This report reviews the many techniques available for calibrating hydrophones, giving details of the method, the validation and the accuracies achieved. The current state of each technique is described together with the results of comparisons between techniques and between laboratories. An important contribution to the international standardisation of some of the more established techniques has been the publication of certain standards which are also reviewed.
Report to the Environmental Protection Agency On: The Workshop for the Development of New Procedures for U.S. Participation in International Standardization in Acoustics, Held 22-25 October 1980 at Airlie House, Virginia
June 1981
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A workshop for the analysis and potential revision of procedures for most effective U.S. participation in international standardization in acoustics was hel at Airlie House, Virginia, from 22-25 October 1980. Thirty-four (34) attendees selected on the basis of their particular expertise in various areas of developing standards or regulations in acoustics participated in the workshop (from both the voluntary and regulatory sector). (The list of attendee is attached (ATTACHMENT A). The workshop was first proposed by the Acoustical Standards Management Board (ASMB) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and organized by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) under contract to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Helicopter Noise Exposure Curves for Use in Environmental Impact Assessment
J. Steven Newman; Edward J. Rickley; Tyrone L. Bland
November 1982
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The FAA has been conducting controlled helicopter noise measurement programs since 1976. The data have been used for a variety of purposes, including evaluation of proposed U.S. and international noise standards and validation of helicopter noise prediction methodologies. This report documents the results of FAA measurement programs conducted in 1976, 1978, and 1980 in a single report with data formatted specifically for environmental impact analyses. In recognition of growing public concern over potentially adverse noise impact associated with helicopter operations, the FAA encourages helicopter and heliport operators to analyze noise impact as part of the normal heliport planning process. The data base contained in this report provides the noise input information necessary to develop helicopter noise exposure footprints or contours using a computer such as the FAA Integrated Noise Model (INM).
Summary Report on the Sixth International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem
Alice H. Suter
November 1994
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Analysis of Helicopter Noise Data Using International Helicopter Noise Certification Standards
J. Steven Newman; Edward J. Rickley; Dennis A. Levanduski; Susan B. Woolridge
March 1986
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This report documents the results of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noise measurement flight test program involving seven helicopters and establishes noise levels using the basic testing, reduction and analysis procedures specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for helicopter noise certification supplemented with some procedural refinements contained in ICAO Working Group II recommendations for incorporation into the standard. The helicopters analyzed in this report include the Hughes 500 D/E, the Aerospatiale AS 350D (AStar), the Aerospatiale AS 355F (TwinStar), the Aerospatiale SA 365 (Dauphin), the Bell 222 Twin Jet, the Boeing Vertol 234/CH 47-D, and the Sikorsky S-76. The document discusses the volution of international helicopter noise certification procedures and describes in detail the data acquisition, reduction and adjustment procedures. Noise levels are plotted versus the logarithm of maximum gross takeoff weight and are shown relative to the ICAO noise level limits. Data from the ICAO Committee on Aircraft Noise (CAN) Seventh meeting "request for data" are also presented. Reference testing and operational data are provided for each helicopter.
A Comparison of Sound Power Levels from Portable Air Compressors Based Upon Test Methodologies Adopted by U.S. EPA and the CEC
December 1980
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On December 30, 1975, the United States government issued a regulation which set limits on the amount of noise emitted from portable air compressors. This regulation also specified the noise test procedure to determine the maximum sound pressure level of compressors. On April 5, 1978, the Commission of the European of the European Communities (CEC) submitted a proposed directive to the Council of the European Communities, that also would set limits on the noise emitted by portable air compressors within the European Economic Community (EEC). The proposed directive also specified the test procedure to determine the sound power emitted from a compressor. It became evident that both U.S. and European manufacturers may need to perform two separate noise tests on their compressors if they intend to meet both existing U.S. and the proposed EEC noise standards. At the request of industry, U.S. government representatives entered into discussions with representatives of the CEC in November 1975. These discussions led to an agreement between the CEC and the U.S. EPA to jointly conduct comparative noise tests of various size compressors to assess the potential for alignment of the existing U.S. and proposed CEC test procedures. The test results presented in this report are the end product of those bilateral discussions and technical cooperation between the CEC and the EPA.
A Comparison of Sound Power Levels from Portable Air Compressors Based Upon Test Methodologies Adopted by U.S. EPA and the EEC
December 1980
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On December 30, 1975, the United States government issued a regulation which set limits on the amount of noise emitted from portable air compressors. This regulation also specified the noise test procedure to determine the maximum sound pressure level of compressors. On Arpil 5, 1978, the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) submitted a propsed directive to the Council of the European Communities, that also would set limits on the noise emitted by portable air compressors within the European Economic Community (EEC). The proposed directive also specified the test procedure to determine the sound power emitted from a compressor. It became evident that both U.S. and European manufacturers may need to perform two separate noise tests on their compressors if they intend to meet both existing U.S. and the proposed EEC noise standards. At the request of industry, U.S. government representatives entered into discussions with representatives of the CEC in November 1975. These discussions led to an agreement between the CEC and the U.S. EPA to jointly conduct comparative noise tests of various size compressors to assess the potential for alignment of the existing U.S. and the proposed CEC test procedures. The test results presented in this report are the end product of those bilateral discussions and technical cooperation between the CEC and the EPA.
Foreign Noise Research in Surface Transportation
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.
Foreign Noise Research in Aviation
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Information Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose fo the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Fedrally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.
Foreign Noise Research in Aviation
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. THe purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations fffor additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.
Foreign Noise Research in Machinery/Construction Equipment
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.
Sound Control Provisions Within Building Codes
Richard L. Katz
June 1974
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The purpose of this report is to review the status of current and future noise control provisions withint the various domestic governmental levels, and at the national level internationally. In many cases, direct comparisons are made. This report will also deal with some of the effects of unwanted sound upon people and some of the causes of complaints from occupants in multifamily dwellings experiencing insufficient noise control.
An Assessment of Noise Concern in Other Nations - Volume II
December 1971
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This contractor report is intended to supplement the Report to Congress by the Office of Noise Abatement and Control. It presents an overview of noise abatement and control problems and activities of foreign nations. It is presented on the premises that the issue of noise and its effects on man has attracted worldwide attention; that many nations and their local governments have taken concrete steps and are supporting extensive research toward noise abatement; and finally, that such information is useful for U.S. federal, state and local governments in their formulation of policy and action plans.
Inter Noise 72 - International Conference on Noise Control Engineering
October 1972
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Proceedings of the 1972 International Conference on Noise Control Engineering held at Washington D.C. on October 4-6, 1972. Sponsored by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE) in Cooperation with the Acoustical Society of America, the International Acoustics Commission of IUPAP (International Union of Pure and Applied Physics) and six agencies of the U.S. Federal Government: Department of Health Education and Welfare, Department of Houseing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Bureau of Standards.
An Assessment of Noise Concern in Other Nations - Volume I
December 1971
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This contractor report is intended to supplement the Report to Congress by the Office of Noise Abatement and Control. It presents an overview of noise abatement and control problems and activities of foreign nations. It is presented on the premises that the issue of noise and its effects on man has attracted worldwide attention; that many nations and their local governments have taken concrete steps and are supporting extensive research toward noise abatement; and finally, that such information is useful for U.S. federal, state and local governments in their formulation of policy and action plans.
A Survey of Enforcement Practice with Respect to Noise Control Requirements in Building and Costs in a Number of European Countries
Theodore J. Schultz
November 1976
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The report introduces the problem of effective enforcement of noise control requirements in building codes throughout Europe, examines in detail two approaches of special interest and finally proposes a new approach to the endorsement of building code noise requirements.
A Survey of Enforcement Practice With Respect to Noise Control Requirements in Building Codes in a Number of European Countries
Theodore J. Schultz
July 1976
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Public Health and Welfare Criteria for Noise
July 1973
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The Noise Control Act of 1972 requires that the Administrator of The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop and publish criteria with respect to noise. These criteria are to "reflect tile scientific knowledge most useful in indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects of noise on the public health and welfare which may be expected from differing quantities and qualities of noise." This document meets that requirement. The terms "criteria and standards" are generally used interchangeably in the scientific communities concerned with noise and its control. However, in accordance with the intent of the U.S. Congress, criteria for environmental pollutants are to reflect an honest appraisal of available knowledge relating to health and welfare effects of pollutants, (in this case, noise). The criteria are descriptions of cause and effect relationships. Standards and regulations must take into account not only the health and welfare considerations described in the criteria, but also, as called for in the Noise Control Act of 1972, technology, and cost of control. This criteria document, therefore, serves as a basis for the establishment of tile recommended environmental noise level goals to be related to the "Effects Document" called for by Section 5(a)(2) of the Noise Control Act. That document, along with this criteria document, will become the basis for standards and regulations called for by Sections 6 and 7 of the Noise Control Act. Further, the terms "health and welfare," as used in the Noise Control Act include, as in other environmental legislation, the physical and mental well being of the human populations. The terms also include other indirect effects, such as annoyance, interference with communication, loss of value and utility of property, and effects on other living things. In preparing this Criteria Document, EPA has taken into account the vast amount of data in the general professional literature and the information contained in the "Report to the President and Congress on Noise" and its supporting documents prepared under Title IV, PL 91-604. To bring to bear the views and opinions of some of the world's leading experts on current knowledge regarding the effects of noise, EPA sponsored an International Conference on Public Health Aspects of Noise) in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia in May 1973. The proceedings of that conference have been applied to the preparation of this document. They are available, as stated in the Appendix to this document.
SI Units and Recommendations for the Use of Their Multiples and of Cetain Other Units
February 1973
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This International Standard consists of two parts. In the first part (sections 2 and 3), the International System of Units is described. In the second part (sections 4 and 5, and the Annex) selected decimal multiples and submultiples of the SI units are recommended for general use, and certain other units are given which may be used with the International System of Units.
Foreign Noise Research in Noise Effects
Niriam Heilman
January 1978
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This volume has been compiled from the results of a survey on foreign noise effects research from 1975-77. The survey was conducted for the second interagency noise effects research panel. Included in the volume are 211 project descriptions, from twenty-two countries. Projects are reported under the following subject areas: noise-induced hearing loss, non-auditory health effects, psychological and performance effects, noise effects on sleep, communication interference, community or collective response, effects of noise on domestic animals and wildlife, noise environment determination, and noise concomitant with vibration.
Soviet Noise Research Literature
April 1974
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Proceedings of the Ad Hoc International Meeting of Regulatory Officials on Alignment of Noise Test Procedures
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These Proceedings were prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who served as Secretariat and host for the first Ad Hoc International Meeting of Regulatory Officials on Alignment of Noise Test Procedures held in Washington, D.C., December 9-12, 1980. The Commission of European Communities has offered to serve as the Secretariat for a subsequent Ad Hoc Meting to held in 1982.
Foreign Noise Research in Machinery and Construction Equipment
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Information Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose fo the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Fedrally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.
Ad Hoc International Meeting of Regulatory Officials on Alignment of Noise Test Procedures
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This Compendium was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who served as Secretariat and host for the first Ad Hoc International Meeting of Regulatory Officials on Alignment of Noise Test Procedures held in Washington, D.C., December 9-12, 1980. The Commission of European Communities has offered to serve as the Secretariat for a subsequent Ad Hoc Meeting to be held in 1981.
Proceedings of the International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem
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In 1968, a Conference on Noise as a Public Health Hazard was organized by the American Speech and Hearing Association. At this conference, an attempt was made to bring together a group of speakers who could present summaries of the current state of knowledge ell all aspects of the "noise problem", ranging all tile way from fairly technical treatises to completely non-technical statements of personal opinion. Such a wide-ranging representation was judged to be necessary for the purpose of that conference, which was to present a broad overview of what "noise pollution" was all about, to government personnel and other intelligent laymen who saw that it was probably going to become a hot issue, and give at least a few examples of the scientific evidence underlying arguments about just what effects noise does have. At this time it was realized that as the environmentalist movement gathered momentum, a rapid development of public concern could be expected, and so a permanent Committee of ASHA was established, one of whose charges was to plan another conference when it was judged appropriate. The burgeoning of interest in noise in the intervening 5 years has clearly met, if not surpassed, our expectations at that time. In the developed areas of the world, millions of dollars or their equivalent are being spent on surveys of noise levels and exposures, and increasingly stringent noise regulations are being imposed by all levels of government. And, although the measurement of the effects of noise is nowhere near as simple as the measurement of the noises themselves, many laboratories, mostly with federal support, are engaged in full-time research on the hearing losses, sleep disturbance, speech interference, alteration of physiological state, and annoyance caused by noise. Accordingly, in 1971 we began looking for a sponsor for a second conference-one who would agree, we hoped, to fund attendance by a substantial number of researchers from abroad, so that certain areas of knowledge less intensively studied in the USA could be included in the subject matter. Fortunately, the head of the newly-created Office of Noise Abatement end Control (ONAC) of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Alvin F. Meyer, had need of just such a conference, as a source material for a document summarizing all known criteria that might be used to establish national standards for noise control-that is, provided that the Congress passed the bill, then being duly debated and amended, that would make such a document necessary. Furthermore, certain PL 480 funds (money that must be spent in other countries) were available, which meant that the degree of participation by foreign scientists might be even greater than we had hoped. Not only that, but the particular PL 480 funds in this case were in Jugoslavia, the country that includes one of the garden spots of the world, Dubrovnik. On the assumption that our Congress would pass some form of the bill in question (which it did on October 27, 1972), we forged ahead with plans for our meeting, now upgraded to an International Congress. With the help of Dr. Grujica Zarkovic, the energetic President of tile Jugoslavian Medical Association, and Dr. Mario Levi of the University of Sarajevo, a planning meeting was held to which we invited a representative from most of the countries in which noise research was being done (I say "most" because we could not quite afford to pay for attendees from Japan, Australia, and South Africa because of the distance involved, even though considerable research is being done there). At this meeting the formal agenda was decided on, and the list of invited participants prepared. It was agreed that we would try to limit the Congress content strictly to the effects of noise on health, thereby excluding discussions of engineering aspects of noise reduction and control, descriptions of methods for legal control, and presentation of viewpoints of special-interest groups. There was some debate about how much time to allot to public opinion surveys of annoyance, some of as contending that annoyance, as measured in that manner, is not a health hazard at all in the ordinary sense of the term. However, proponents of the WHO definition of "health", in which any deviation from "optimum well-being" is regarded as undesirable, carried the field, and the final day of the Congress was therefore given over to the sociologists. Despite a series of crises precipitated by governmental red tape originating both in Washington and Belgrade, the Congress was held on May 13-18, 1973 at the Libertas Hotel in Dubrovnik. We had two major disappointments: one was the failure of our Russian invitees to appear due to the fact that our official invitations had not been sent early enough. The other was that the Xerox machine at the Libertas was out of commission. However, the general success of the Congress can be gauged by the fact that the audience was as large on the final afternoon as at any other time. A side benefit of the Congress (or so we hope) was the formation of an international organization consisting of 5 "teams" who will try to accumulate and coordinate knowledge about the effects of noise on (1) temporary and permanent bearing loss; (2) extra auditory function; (3) speech; (4) sleep; and (5) community reaction. The parent group, or "basic" team, will attempt to consolidate this knowledge for use by governmental agencies, and will make plans for the next Congress. Although the organization is now alive, its name is still in question. At the moment it is still the "'International Scientific Noise Teams", but the resulting acronym has a negative connotation that pleases few of us. Other names are being considered. I regret that the length of the invited papers made it impracticable to publish at this time any of the short contributed papers that were presented at the Congress, many of which were excellent, or the often-lively discussions that followed each session. It is hoped that these can be included if another printing of the Proceedings is to be made. An enterprise of this scope cannot be a success without hard work on the part of many people. Without doubt the most effort of all wax put forth by Dr. Levi, who managed all the mechanical details of the Congress, with the help of his and Dr. Zarkovic's staff, particularly, Felih Vesna. Official thanks are extended to our sponsoring organizations: The Jugoslavian Medical Association, The American Speech and Hearing Association, the World Health Organization, and of course most of all the Office of Noise Abatement and Control.