EPA Document Collection

Subject Index

About the EPA document collection held by the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse.

Subject Index: A B C E G H I L M O P R S T U W
Title Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W #

Single page lists: authors subjects titles
Most useful EPA documents

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Railroads and Rapid Transit
Regulations and Proposed Regulations
Residential

Railroads and Rapid Transit

Federal Register - Environmental Protection Agency - Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Equipment; Interstate Rail Carriers
April 1979
PDF

Railroad Noise Emission Standard
PDF

Synthesis of Social Surveys on Noise Annoyance
Theodore J. Schultz
March 1978
PDF

Since noise was first recognized as a serious environmental pollutant, a number of social surveys have been conducted in order to assess the magnitude of the problem and to develop suitable noise ratings, such that, from a measurement of certain physical characteristics of community noise, one could reliably predict the community's subjective response to the noise. Recently, the author has reviewed the data from social surveys concerning the noise of aircraft, street traffic, expressway traffic, and railroads. Going back to the original published data, the various survey noise ratings were translated to day-night average sound level, and an independent judgment was made, where choices were possible, as in which respondents should be counted as "higly annoyed". The results of 11 of these surveys show a remarkable consistency. It is proposed that the average of these curves is the best currently available relationship for predicting community annoyance due to transportation noise of all kinds.

Handbook for Measuring Compliance With the Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Standards
June 1980
PDF

This handbook describes procedures for measuring compliance with EPA's Noise Emission Standards, which set limits on the noise of locomotives, switcher locomotives, rail cars, active retarders, car-coupling impacts, and locomotive load cell test stands. The Federal Railroad Administration will be promulgating compliance regulations in the near future for enforcement of the EPA Emission Standards. This handbook specifically addresses noise measurement procedures and is directed towards compliance officers, railroad personnel, local residents, and others to permit an assessment of the noise emissions from a railyard.

Railroad Noise Impact Study
Desheng Quian
August 1987
PDF

This paper reviews the current approaches to the prediction and assessment of railroad noise impact. Methods for the evaluation of railroad line and railyard noise impact are discssed as well as outlines of the Railroad Line Noise Impact Model (RLNIM) and the Railyard Noise Impact Model (RYNIM). This report also describes a common analytical model which is the Railroad Noise Impact Model (RNIM). The RNIM consists of three general sub-models: noise generation model, noise propagation model and noise impact model. This model can be used in many situations and different countries.

Background Document for Railroad Noise Emission Standards
December 1975
PDF

This document contains the technical, economic, health and welfare analyses and other pertinent data and information utilized by the Environmental Protection Agency in the development of the final Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation.

Environmental Impact Statement for Final Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation: Source Standards
December 1979
PDF

This Environmental Impact Statement addresses the final noise emission regulation for railroad activities, other than line-haul operations. In arriving at the final regulation, the Environmental Protection Agency carried out detailed investigations of railroad yard operations, noise sources, noise measurement methodologies, available noise control technology, costs attendant to noise control methods, possible economic impacts, and the potential environmental and health and welfare benefits associated with the application of various noise control measures. Data and information were generated as a result of these investigations. Summaries are presented herein of the more pertinent information regarding the environmental impacts expected to result from the regulatory action.

Measurements of Railroad Noise-Line Operations, Yard Boundaries, and Retarders
J.M. Fath; D.S. Blomquist; J.M. Heinen; and M. Tarica
December 1974
PDF

A field investigation of noise emission from railroad operations was conducted. The objectives of the study were the establishment of a data base on the noise levels associated with railroad operations, both line (trains in transit) and yard, and the development of measurement procedures that could be utilized in regulations applicable to the noise from rail carrier equipment and facilities. For trains in transit, measurements were made as a function of horizontal distance from the tracks [five locations at 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 feet] and as a function of microphone height [three different heights at the 25 and 50 foot microphone locations]. Train passby data are presented at the maximum A-weighted sound level obvserved during the passby and as Single Event Noise Exposure Levels (both A-weighted and one-third octave band levels). A-weighted sound level measurements were made at the boundary of the railyard, at 0.1 second intervals, for periods of time ranging from 1 to 23 hours over several days. These data are presented as the energy equivalent sound level and the level exceeded ten percent of the time. The directionality of retarder noise was also investigated. Measurements were made of the noise emitted in various directions during retarder operation.

Background Document for Final Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation: Source Standards
December 1979
PDF

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued, on December 31, 1975, a noise emission regulation for locomotives and railcars operated by interstate rail carriers (40 CFR Part 201). In developing the December 31, 1975 railroad noise emission regulation, EPA considered broadening the scope of the regulation to include facilities and additional equipment. BEcause of the wide disparity in perceived severity of noise problems found at differing rail facilities, the Agency decided that railroad facility and equipment noise, other than that produced by locomotives or railcars, was best controlled by measures which did not require national uniformity or treatment. Further, EPA believed that the health and welfare of the Nation's population being jeopardized by railroad facility and equipment noise, other than locomotives and railcars, was best served by specific controls at the state and local level and not by federal regulations, which would have to address railroads on a national, and therefore on a more general basis. Where the Federal government establishes standards for railroad facilities and equipment, states and local authorities ordinarily are preempted unless they adopt standards identical to the federal standards. For these reasons, EPA decided to leave state and local authorities free to address site-specific problems, on a case-by-case basis, without unnecessary federal hindrance....

Federal Register - Environmental Protection Agency - Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Equipment; Interstate Rail Carriers
January 1980
PDF

Federal Register - Environmental Protection Agency - Railroad Noise Emission Standards
January 1976
PDF

Background Document for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation
February 1979
PDF

In accordance with Section 17 of the Noise Control Act of 1972, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on January 14, 1976, promulgated noise emission standards for railroad locomotives and rail cars which are used in interstate commerce. That regulation was challenged in a suit brought against the Agency by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) on the basis that it included only locomotives and rail cars and therefore did not preempt state and local regulation of all rail carriers' equipment and facilities. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that the Agency must broaden the scope of the existing railroad regulation.

Railroad Noise Analysis
R. Brown
November 1975
PDF

A group of 11 tapes (furnished by EPA) of recorded railroad noise was analyzed to determine the effect of varying the following analysis parameters: -time constant, -sampling rate, -starting time interval, -data sample, -weighting network. The following report contains descriptions of the analyses performed and tables of the results. Detailed printouts of each statistical distribution can be supplied if desired. It must be emphasized that the statistical values computed and listed in this report are not necessarily the exact values for the sites measured. Differences in frequency response between the field recorder and the analysis recorder were not accounted for, and, in some, cases, a field calibration record was not available. However, the accuracy of comparisons between values listed in individual tables using different analysis methods is very good.

The Effect of Tunnel Acoustic Treatment on the Noise Inside Subway Cars
H.H. Heller; E.K. Bender
November 1973
PDF

This report investigates the possibilities and limitations of reducing the noise levels in the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) subway cars by acoustic treatment of the surfaces in subway tunnels. Acoustic measurements were conducted in NYCTA cars for various operating conditions. These were complemented by measurements outside the cars to obtain transmission loss data for various structural components of the cars. The report concludes with specific recommendations and provides estimates of their effect on car interior levels. The accompanying summarizes the changes in the car interior sound pressure level spectrum for various environmental conditions.

Noise and Vibration Characteristics of High Speed Transit Vehicles
June 1971
PDF

The rapidly epanding problems of urban transportation have resulted in intensified activity in the development and construction of new fixed route, high speed rapid transit systems and equipment. The community noise and ground vibration cause by such systems and vehicles is a very important factor influencing public acceptance of these systems. Noise and vibration measurements obtained within modern operational and experimental transit vehicles provide a basis for determining the expected wayside or community airborne noise and ground-borne vibration levels for different types of new transit systems. Through the use of modern design concepts and equipment intended to provide reduced noise and vibration, the wayside noise and vibration caused by rapid transit system vehicles can be made acceptable and the operations can be much quieter than traditionally expected despite the general increase in speed of the newer systems which tends to increase noise and vibration. The purpose of this report is to present a review of the available information on wayside noise and vibration generated by rapid transit vehicles, primarily rail transit vehicles, including projection of the expected noise and vibration levels for highway speed vehicles being considered for future applications.

Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation - Part III
June 1980
PDF

Proposed revision to the rail carrier noise emission regulation, encompassing a railyard property line standard and source standards, was published on April 17, 1979 (44 FR 22960). The official public comment period began with this Federal Register publication and closed July 2, 1979. All comments received or postmarked by the closing date were published in a two part Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation (EPA 550/9-79-208). On January 4, 1980, we published final railyard noise source standards and also reopened the formal comment period for the proposed property-line noise regulation (45 FR 1252). Public comments were accepted until April 4, 1980, to allow all interested parties the opportunity to express their opinions on the proposed property line standards in light of the finalized source standards. This publication consists of the public comments that we received during the reopened comment period and an appendix that includes those comments that were received between July 2, 1979 and January 4, 1980, the period of time after the closing date of the first comment period and before the reopening. It is designated as part III of the official docket for the April 17, 1979, proposed revision to the rail carrier noise regulation.

Control of Railroad Wheel Screech Noise
Francis Kirchner
August 1968
PDF

Memorandum - Railroad Noise Litigation
K.E. Feith
February 1987
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Special Local Determinations Procedures for Interstate Railroad Noise Emission Standards and Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Emission Standards and Guidelines for State and Local Governments on the Filing and Processing of
November 1976
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Proposed Revised Noise Emission Regulation For Interstate Rail Carriers
William E. Roper
April 1979
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Noise in Rail Transit Cars: Incremental Costs of Quieter Cars
June 1974
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U.S. rail rapid transit systems, car operations, and the car building industry are described in relation to the procurement of quieter cars. The noise environment of passengers in rapid transit cars is discussed and the major noise sources and paths of noise transmission into cars are delineated. For essentially all combinations of car noise-control modifications deemed technically and economically feasible for implementation in new vehicles, estimates are presented of the associated noise reductions, initial costs, and operating costs. It is concluded that significant reductions in in-car noise under typical operating conditions can be achieved at incremental costs that are small percentages of the total car costs.

A Prospectus for Change in the Freight Railroad Industry
October 1978
PDF

Railyard Noise Exposure Model - Source Submodel (RYNEM-S) - Volume 3: RYNEM-S Programmer Manual
January 1982
PDF

This volume describes the stricture of the RYNEM-S and the model's program source code. It is not meant to teach the reader how to run the program. Execution of the model is described in Volume 2. It assumes the reader has digested the contents of Volume 1. The intended audience is the programmer who needs to maintain the program and make changes to the source code. A strong knowledge of standard IBM FORTRAN IV language is assumed.

Railyard Noise Exposure Model - Source Submodel (RYNEM-S) - Volume 2: RYNEM-S User Manual
January 1982
PDF

This volume presents a cookbook approach to the execution of the RYNEM-S model. Its intended audience is those who will exercise the model. It assumes familiarity with Volume 1, i.e., the user knows the quantities he inputs, and knows the quantities printed out. For obvious reasons, the explanations incorporated in Volume 1 are not repeated. While it does not presume expertise with the EPA IBM computer system, it does assume the user can follow the instructions presented in this volume to the letter.

Federal Preemption of Railroad Noise Control: A Case Study and Comment
Jeffrey O. Cerar
PDF

Railyard Noise Exposure Model - Source Submodel (RYNEM-S) - Volume 1: Description of RYNEM-S Model
January 1982
PDF

This volume presents an overview of the RYNEM-S model. The basic philosophy of the model is discussed and the relevant equations used in the computations are presented. This volume is written for those who need to know what the model is like. It does not go into detail of how each computation is done in the program, nor does it teach the user how to run the model. It presupposes some familiarity with the EPA noise terminology, as is covered by the "EPA Levels" document. The reader is advised to persue the Railroad Background document for other terminology used without explanation.

Rapid Transit Car Maintenance and Storage Facilities Study - Building Planning Standards
September 1978
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This document contains standards covering four phases of maintenance building planning: Building Size, Productivity, Support Appurtenances and Ancillary Facilities, and Building Environment. Together, these phases constitute what the Task Force feels are the fundamentals of the maintenance building element in the yard. The standards identify planning and design ideals which are to be included in the design/rehabilitation of maintenance buildings, where applicable. The key points to be noted in the maintenance building proposals are: -A well-laid out building with appropriate appurtenances and ancillary facilities is essential to improving labor productivity. Good facilities lead to improved labor productivity. -There is a definite mathematic relationship between cars assigned and building size. It was found that a relationship could be established where buildings proved to be too small or too large. What is important to note is that the outfitting of the building is as important as its size in keeping cars available for revenue service. -

Railyard Noise Exposure Model (RYNEM) - Volume 3: RYNEM Programming Manual
January 1982
PDF

This volume describes the structure of the RYNEM and the model's program source code. It is not meant to teach the reader how to run the program. Execution of the model is described in Volume 2. It assumes the reader has digested the contents of Volume 1. The intended audience is the programmer who needs to maintain the program and make changes to the source code. A strong knowledge of standard IBM FORTRAN IV language is assumed.

Railroad Noise Exposure Model (RYNEM) - Volume 2: RYNEM User Manual
January 1982
PDF

This volume presents a cookbook approach to the execution of the RYNEM model. Its intended audience is those who will exercise the model. It assumes familiarity with Volume 1, I.e., the user knows the quantities he inputs, and he known the quantities printed out. For obvious reasons, the explanations incorporated in Volume 1 are not repeated. While it does not presume expertise with the EPA IBM computer system, it does assume the user can follow the instructions presented in this volume to the letter.

MBTA Rapid Transit System (Red Line) Wayside and In-Car Noise and Vibration Level Measurements
Edward J. Rickley; Robert W. Quinn
August 1972
PDF

Wayside and in-car noise and vinration characteristics of a late-model mass transit car making up 2-cand 4-car trains are tabulated and analyzed in this report. The MBTA Type 1 South Shore Rapid Transit Car, designed and built by Pullman Standard, Chicago Illinois and currently in operation on the Red Line of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was measured. Wayside measurements had been made by the tracks of the South Shore Extension of the Red Line 58 days after the official September 1, 1971 opening of this extension. These wayside measurements were repeated six months later. In-car noise and vibration measurements are made in a selected 2-car train on a typical run over various sections of the Red Line.

Federal Register - Environmental Protection Agency - Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Equipment for Interstate Rail Carriers
September 1980
PDF

Railyard Noise Exposure Model (RYNEM) - Volume 1: Description of RYNEM Model
January 1982
PDF

This volume presents an overview of the RYNEM model. The basic philosophy of the model is discussed and the relevant equations used in the computations are presented. This volume is written for those who need to know what the model is like. It does not go into detail of how each computation is done in the program, nor does it teach the user how to run the model. It presupposes some familiarity with the EPA noise terminology, as is covered by the "EPA Levels" document. The reader is advised to peruse the Railroad Background document for other terminology used without explanation.

Railroad Cash Flow Model - Volume 1: Cash Flow Model Description
January 1982
PDF

This document describes the cash flow model used in the financial analysis conducted for the background document to railroad yard noise standards. It first etails he purpose of the cash flow model. Next, a derivative to the equations used in the model is presented. Volume II lists the data inputs needed to use the model. Finally, a sample output of the model is shown with notes on how to interpret it.

Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation - Part II
July 1979
PDF

Guidelines for State and Local Governments on the Filing and Processing of Applicants for Preemption Waiver Determinations under Section 17 (c)(2) of the Noise Control Act of 1972
PDF

These guidelines are to act as a supplement to the provisions of Subpart D of 40 CFR 201, which contain the detailed delineation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's view of the preemptive effect of the Interstate Railroad Noise Emission Regulation and establish the basis upon which determinations for waivers of preemption with respect to that regulation will be made by the Agency. The guidelines set out below contain the procedures to be followed by State and local governments in filing, and by the EPA in processing applications for waiver of preemption. Included are procedural requirements as to where applications must be filed and what information must be included in supporting statements necessary for the Administrator of the EPA to make a determination, as well as procedures delineating the manner in which the decision process will be conducted for all apllications submitted to the Agency. It is important that State and local governments follow the requirements of and utilize the guidance provided by both these guidelines and the procedures of Subpart D of 40 CFR 201 in addressing any questions or issues associated with the preemptive aspects of the EPA's Interstate Railroad Noise Emission Regulation.

National Surface Transportation Noise Strategy - Medium and Heavy Trucks, Light Vehicles, Motorcycles, and Snowmobiles
October 1978
PDF

This surface transportation substrategy is a follow-up to Toward a National Strategy for Noise Control. The strategy document sets forth the extent of the noise problem in the United States and the general framework for its abatement and control. This substrategy identifies the specific noise problems which stem from surface transportation vehicles (excluding railroads), and suggests the noise abatement controls which should be used to halt this growing problem.

Railroad Cash Flow Model - Volume 3: Cash Flow Model Programmer's Manual
January 1982
PDF

This manual provides information on how to service the cash flow model. It is written for a user who has some familiarity with standard IBM FORTRAN-IV and the WYLBUR system. The manual has four sections. The first section discusses the model design through its technical specifications, data requirements and algorithms. The second section defines the data base specifications and defines the data names. The third section is an annotated listing of the program. The fourth section describes verification and test procedures for the model.

Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation - Part I
July 1979
PDF

Background Document/Environmental Explanation for Proposed Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulations
June 1974
PDF

The study of railroad noise is relatively new. Most of the information and data contained in this report has been generated during the past year. It is important to note that this report and the proposed regulations are an initial step in a continuing effort to understand and reduce railroad noise. The Agency wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of a multitude of parties and to extend its appreciation for their efforts. These parties include, but are by no means limited to, The Department of Transportation, Association of American Railroads, the Department of Commerce, and the National Bureau of Standards.

Comparison of Noise and Vibration Levels in Rapid Transit Vehicle Systems
Edward W. Davis
April 1964
PDF

User's Guide and Documentation of the ONAC Railroad Cash Flow Model
May 1981
PDF

The Railroad Cash Flow Model estimates the discounted present value of each firm's future cash flow stream. To determine this, the set worth of each railroad firm is subtracted from the present value of future cash flow. The model was developed by contractor in order to perform the economic analysis for the railroad regulation. The model was implicitly developed through contract funding but is not currently available for use on EPA's computer system.

Railroad Cash Flow Model - Volume 2: Cash Flow Model User's Guide
January 1982
PDF

This volume of the railroad cash flow software documentation describes the use of the railroad cash flow model. It tells how to access the model and how to change the data. Section 2.1 provides a brief overview of the design of the cash flow model and the computing environment it is used in. Section 2.2 describes how to access the computer and run the model. Section 2.3 shows how to change the data. Section 2.4 is a sample output. Appendix A is a sample session with the cash flow model. Appendix B is a list of key commands which can be used on the WYLBUR system. Appendix C explains how to restore files which have been archived.

Rail Yard Noise Measurement Data - Appendix B - Background Document for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation
PDF

In order to document the noise exposure in the vicinity of a variety of rail yards, noise measurements were obtained at each of the yards listed in Table 1. The measurements were conducted over a period of one to two days at each of three locations at each yard. Measurement locations were selected so that the noise of rail yard activities would dominate the noise environment at one or more of the locations for each yard. The remaining locations were selected where the noise of mainline operations, and/or the noise of other noise sources within the community combines with the noise of rail yard activities; the noise measurements at these locations provide information on the difficulty of segregating the noise of rail yard activities from other noise sources at a community measurement location. Wherever possible, measurement locations were selected to lie on property lines surrounding the rail yards. Site specific conditions, however, often required the location of measurement positions within the property line; such conditions include shielding of major noise sources at the property line, the presence of major non-rail sources at the property line, or local terrain, access, or safety conditions which restrict property line measurements. All measurements were performed with an automatic monitoring unit, and simultaneously a continuous tracing of the noise level with time was obtained on a graphic level recorder. The instrumentation is illustrated schematically in Figure 1. The signal measured with the monitoring unit was A-weighted and automatically processed to provide the equivalent level and various percentile levels over hourly periods. Each major noise event occurring at a particular location was identified and noted on the level record by an attendant who continuously monitored the recordings. The measurement results are provided in an attachment to this appendix. For each yard, a general description of the major activities at the yard is provided, as well as a description of the measurement locations selected. A map of the yard indicating the measurement locations is also provided. For each measurement location, the measured noise levels are listed on one or more noise data tabulation forms (one form for each day of measurements). On each form for each hour is listed the equivalent level, the maximum level, and the following percentile levels: L1, L10, L50, L90, and L99. Also listed are the daytime, nighttime, and day-night sound levels computed from the equivalent levels measured during the appropriate hours of the day (Reference B-2).

Background Document/Environmental Explanation for Proposed Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulations
March 1974
PDF

The study of railroad noise is relatively new. Most of the information and data contained in this report has been generated during the past year. It is important to note that this report and the proposed regulations are an initial step in a continuing effort to understand and reduce railroad noise. The Agency wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of a multitude of parties and to extend its appreciation for their efforts. Those parties include, but are by no means limited to, The Department of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads, and the National Bureau of Standards.

Regulations and Proposed Regulations

NADA Regulatory Affaris Response to ONAC Docket 81-02 (Medium and Heavy Trucks) ANR-490
May 1981
PDF

Noise Exposure Around Joint-Use Airports
Richard Burke; Dwight E. Bishop
December 1980
PDF

This report dexcribes a study of present and future exposures of people to noise from airports used by both civilians and military aircraft and predicts how exposure around these airports will be affected by increasingly stringent aircraft noise regulations in the absence of similar regulations of military aircraft.

A Case Study of the Closing of a Federal Activity
W. Thomas Callahan; Wilson V. Varga
September 1982
PDF

Federal activities can close without resort to reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures and avoid the costs and personnel turbulence attendant to a RIF. Phaseout, rather than precipitous closing, can also avoid loss of property and diminution of respect for the national government. This report documents in detail the steps taken by the managers of one Federal activity that conducted a gradual phaseout. Emphasis is placed on personnel outplacement, the bolstering of state programs to carry on the Federal work that is ending, retirement of program records and technical information, fulfillment of regulatory requirements, disposition and security of property, and assurance of fiscal accountability. Discussions are illustrated with specimens of documents that can be adapted for use by other activities that close.

Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Vehicles - Proposed Motorcycle Noise Emission Regulations - Background Document Appendix
November 1977
PDF

This background document was prepared in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Proposed Noise Emission Regulations for New Motorcycles and Mew Motorcycle Replacement Exhaust Systems. These Regulations have been proposed to the mandate of Congress as expressed in The Noise Control Act of 1972 (86 Stat. 1234).

Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Vehicles - Proposed Motorcycle Noise Emission Regulations - Background Document
November 1977
PDF

Truck Transport Refrigeration Units - Summary Report
March 1982
PDF

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has conducted a review of the draft noise emission regulation planned for Truck Transport Refrigeration Units (TTRU's). This review was performed from the standpoint of the prevailing conditions of the national economy, the economic difficulties being experienced by the truck and TTRU industries, the President's policy to reduce the burdens of Federal regulations, and the changes in the Agency's regulatory priorities due to national need and budgetary constraints.

Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Vehicles - Proposed Motorcycle Noise Emission Regulations - Draft Environmental and Inflationary Impact Statement
November 1977
PDF

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued proposed noise emission regulations for newly manufactured motorcycles and motorcycle replacement exhaust systems. These proposed regulations are intended to alleviate the problem of motorcycle noise not only in cities and on highways, but in off-road environments as well. This draft Environmental and Inflationary Impact Statement (EIS-IIS) presents in summary form benefits to be gained from the proposed motorcycle noise standards, and the economic implications of this action. Also presented are the principal regulatory options which were considered by EPA. The information contained in this document will provide an understanding of the issues involved with this proposed rulemaking, and of EPA's strategy in promoting a quieter, more livable environment for all Americans.

Letter about Meeting with International Harvester on Regulatory Relief
Michael P. Walsh
March 1981
PDF

EPA Analysis of the Amendment to Delete "Engine Brake" Deceleration Testing from the Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Regulation
ONAC
May 1977
PDF

A presentation of the questions posed and an assessment of the issues related to the consideration of the amendment to delete deceleration testing from the medium and heavy truck noise regulation (40 CPR 205) is reported. Although noise emissions from engine brake operation are inique in character, it appears that noise control using engine exhaust muffling for the vehicle acceleration mode also reduces engine brake deceleration sound levels. Economic impacts of vehicle deceleration testing using engine brakes appear minimal if engine brakes are installed at the point of manufacture. The report contains EPA Regulatory Docket No. ONAC 77-3 exhibiting all comments submitted by interested parties.

Freightliner Corporation's Letter to the EPA, Petitioning the 1982 Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Emission Regulations
March 1981
PDF

Columnist and Member Combine to Distinguish "Buy Quiet" Approach From Federal Regulation
PDF

Background Document for Railroad Noise Emission Standards
December 1975
PDF

Model Community Noise Control Ordinance
National Institute of Municipal Law Officers; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
September 1975
PDF

This report contains a model ordinance for use by cities and counties in the development of noise control ordinances tailored to local conditions and goals. It is a comprehensive, performance-standard noise ordinance intended to overcome enforcement problems associated with the outmoded nuisance law approach to noise control. This report contains sections on the control of noise from both stationary and mobile sources and includes land use planning provisions. A preamble gives important explanatory information for certain ordinance sections.

Construction Site Noise Impact
F.M. Kessler; M. Alexander, N. Moiseev
February 1978
PDF

This manual presents a procedure for assessing the noise impact of construction activity. The manual presentd methods for measureing and estimating baseline sound levels, for estimating coustruction site sound levels, and for assessing noise impact and compliance with state and local noise regulations. Also included is a section describing construction equipment and construction process noise methods. A construction site noise model is presented which uses equipment sound levels and usage factors. Worksheets and graphs are provided to assist in the computations. Acoustical computational procedures, as well as equipment sound levels and usage factors, state and local regulations, and illustrative examples, are presented in Appendices.

Listing of EPA Noise Regulations
PDF

Noise Emission Standards for Contstruction Equipment - Proposed Wheel and Crawler Tractor Noise Emission Regulation - Part 1. Draft Environmental Impact Statement Part 2. Background Document
June 1977
PDF

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Economic Impact Statement, and Background Document were prepared in support of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulation which sets noise emission standards for newly manufactured wheel and crawler tractors. The proposed regulation has been published pursuant to the mandate of Congress as expressed in the Noise Control Act of 1972 (86 Stat. 1234)

Noise Violations: Guidance Manual for State and Local Prosecutors
PDF

The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance to prosecutors who choose to take legal action against violators of State or local noise control regulations; its intent is to assist prosecutors preparing for and conducting a trial - from drafting the complaint to submitting jury instructions.

Noise Emission Standards for Transportation Equipment - Proposed Bus Noise Emission Regulation - Part 1. Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Part 2. Background Document
August 1977
PDF

This Draft Environmental Impact Statement addresses a proposed noise emission regulation for buses. In arriving at the proposed regulation, the Agency carried out detailed investigations of bus design and manufacturing and assembly processes, bus noise measurement methodologies, available bus noise control technology. costs attendant to bus noise control methods, costs to test vehicles for compliance, costs of record keeping, possible economic impacts due to increased costs, and the potential environmental and health and welfare benefits associated with the application of various noise control measures. Data and information generated as a result of these investigations are the basis for the statements made in Part 1 of this document. Part 1 has been designed to present, in the simplest form, all relevant information regarding the environmental impact expected to result from the proposed action. Where greater detail is required, the Agency encourages persual of Part 2, the Background Document.

Noise Emission Standards for Surface Transportation Equipment - Information in Support of the Proposed Regulation for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors - Part 1. Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Economic Impact Statement Part 2. Background Doc.
August 1977
PDF

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Economic Impact Statement, and Background Document were prepared in support of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulation which sets noise emission standards for newly manufactured truck-mounted solid waste compactors. The proposed regulation has been published pursuant to the mandate of Congress as expresses in the Noise Act of 1972 (86 Stat. 1234).

Background Document for Proposed Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Regulations
October 1974
PDF

The subjects addressed in this document are intended to provide background information on various aspects associated with the development of regulations relative to noise emission from newly manufactured trucks.

EPA Clearance Record - Delegations Manual - Revised Delegation
PDF

The Assistant Administrator for the Office of External Affairs (OEA) proposes to transfer responsibility for delegations of the Noise Control Act of 1972 to the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation (OAR) who was orginally responsible for these delegations. OEA and OAR agree that OAR can better manage any regulatory and technical issues arising under the Act. OEA will retain responsibility for information dissemination, education and approval of grants and cooperative agreements.

Background Document for Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Emission Regulations
October 1974
PDF

In March, 1974, in accordance with Section 5(a)(2) of the Noise Control Act of 1972, EPA published a document in which levels of environmental noise requisite to protect public health and welfare were identified(1). Since EPA studies have shown that actual environmental noise levels in many parts of the country exceed the levels identified as desirable, a Federal strategy is being developed to control environmental noise.

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
PDF

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).

Background Document for Proposed Portable Air Compressor Noise Emission Regulations
October 1974
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Preliminary Cost and Technology Information on Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks
June 1974
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This document contains preliminary cost and technology information that is being used to develop noise regulations for newly manufactured medium and heavy duty trucks. The information presented here does not represent an EPA position nor does it represent all the technical information that will be used to develop the regulation. Medium and heavy duty trucks have been identified as a major source of noise, and public participation in the regulatory process is desired by EPA. Accordingly, comments on all aspects of medium and heavy duty truck regulations are welcome.

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.

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.

International Harvester Letter Regarding the Petition for Reconsideration - 1982 Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Emission Regulation
May 1981
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Notes for Meeting Relative to Noise Regulatory Responsibility
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Economic and Social Impact of Occupational Noise Exposure Regulations
Nicholas A. Ashford; Dale Hattis; Eric M. Zolt; Judith I. Katz; George R. Heaton
September 1976
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This report elaborates on the costs and benefits associated with alternative occupational noise exposure regulations. The limitations of cost/benefit analysis for social decision-making are enunciated. The impact of various regulatory alternatives for 85 dBA and 90 dBA criteria are analyzed.

Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation - Part III
June 1980
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Technical Analysis - Alignment of the Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Regulation
June 1982
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Since passage of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been actively concerned with abatement and control of noise from medium and heavy trucks. Section 18 of the Act directed the Administrator to establish noise emission regulations for motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce. In October of 1974 the Agency promulgated an Interstate Motor Carrier (IMC) noise regulation (40 CFR 202). The regulation prescribed in-use operating noise limits, effective October 15, 1975, for all vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) in excess of 10,000 pounds. On September 8, 1975 the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), which has the Federal enforcement responsibility for the IMC regulation, issued a regulation (49 CFR 325) that prescribed test procedures for determining compliance with the (IMC) noise emission standards. The effective date of the DOT regulation also was October 15, 1975. A number of states and local jurisdictions have adopted and enforce the "in-use" noise standards of the IMC regulation as part of their individual noise control ordinances. Subsequent to the IMC regulation, the Agency promulgated a regulation (40 CFR 205) under the authority of Section 6 of the Act, that established not-to-exceed noise levels for medium and heavy trucks (MHT) manufactured after January 1, 1978. When the Agency promulgated the IMC regulation, it recognized that certain adjustments to the noise limits would be required in the future to ensure that the benefits anticipated from any "new product" regulation would be realized throughout the operating life of new trucks. This document analyzes the potential effects of aligning the levels of the "in-use" IMC regulation with the not-to-exceed levels of the "new-product" MHT regulation. In such an alignment, the IMC noise levels for trucks manufactured on or after January 1, 1978 would be consistent with the noise emission standards of the MHT regulation. Trucks manufactured prior to January 1, 1978 would not be affected. The analysis of the potential effects of aligning the IMC and MHT standards is based on extensive field data on in-use truck noise levels, supplemented by tire noise and vehicle noise degradation data that were not available when the IMC regulation was promulgated in 1974. The analysis assesses the degree of compliance with the IMC standards by interstate motor carrier vehicles. It further evaluates the change in the in-use noise levels of trucks since promulgation of the IMC regulation and the in-use noise levels of trucks manufactured after January 1, 1978. The analysis concludes with an assessment of the potential costs and benefits of an alignment of the IMC regulation with the MHT regulation for post-1977 trucks.

Environmental Impact Statement for the Final Noise Emission Regulation for Buses
July 1980
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This document presents an assessment of the expected benefits and impacts of the Final Noise Emission Regulation for Buses. The information presented includes a description of the bus noise problem, the statutory basis for the action, a summary of the regulation, State and local programs complementary to Federal noise emission standards for buses, the alternatives considered, the expected benefits of the regulation, the potential economic effects of the regulation, public comments on the draft environmental impact statement, and conclusions.

Regulatory Impact Review of Noise Regulation for Truck Mounted Solid Waste Compactors
May 1982
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted a review of the noise regulation for truck-mounted solid waste compactors (40 CFR Part 205 Subpart F). This review was performed in accordance with the guidelines for regulatory relief recently announced by the President and in response to requests from the industry that the regulation be reconsidered based on excessive costs of compliance.

Docket Analysis for the Final Noise Emission Regulation for Buses
July 1980
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This document presents all comments received from the public regarding the proposed Bus Noise Emission Regulation and the Federal government's responses to each comment. The comments include those received during the 90-day public comment period and testimony recieved at two public hearings. The comments and Agency responses address: health and welfare benefits of the regulation; bus interior noise; school buses; possible economic effects of the regulation; noise control technology; enforcement of the regulation; test procedures; Acoustical Assurance Period and Sound Level Degradation Factor; Transbus; transit malls; and general comments. The document also lists: those organizations and individuals that commented during the 90-day public comment period or testified at the hearings; other organizations and individuals with which the Agency had contact during the development of the regulation; and those organizations and individuals that the Agency will contact in order to inform the public of the benefits and impacts of the regulation.

Regulatory Analysis for the Final Noise Emission Regulation for Buses
July 1980
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This document presents the technical data and analysis used by EPA in developing the Noise Emission Regulation for Buses. The information presented includes a detailed discussion of: buses and the bus industry; baseline noise levels for current buses; the noise control technology available; the adverse health and welfare impacts of bus noise and the potential benefits of regulation; the expected costs and potential economic effects of regulation; the measurement methodology; the enforcement procedures and existing State, local, and foreign noise regulations applicable to buses

Substrategy for Construction Noise Abatement
Paul U. Pawlik
August 1981
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This study outlines a national strategy to address construction site noise. After explaining the peculiar nature of construction-site noise and estimating the population exposed to high noise levels, the author presents viable methods to control such noise. It was found that in non-regulatory solutions are the best solution, after analyzing controls using criteria like: the effectiveness in reducing noise exposure, the speed with which effectiveness is obtained, the relative overall cost to contractors, and the proper place of primary responsibility.

Memorandum - Possible Noise Regulation
R.A. Edwards
March 1987
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Product Noise Labeling Standards - Draft - Background Document for Product Noise Labeling General Provisions
April 1977
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This Background Document has been prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency in support of the Proposed Product Noise Labeling Standards - General Provisions. The proposed regulation will be promulgated under the authority of sections 8, 10, 11, and 13 of the Noise Control Act of 1972.

Laws and Regulatory Schemes for Noise Abatement
December 1971
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I - Among the more significant findings and conclusions of this Report are the following: - The existing Environmental Noise Regulatory Structure is fragmented in organization and ad hoc in operation. Abatement functions are distributed among Federal, State, and local governmental levels but are largely uncoordinated. - The environmental noise problem context is composed of a wide variety of discrete noise sources and noise environments. Numerous partial efforts have been made to regulate "excessive" or "unnecessary" noise through regulatory schemes directed to abatement at the source, reduction of the effects of noise, and to remedies (by private action) to abate the source or to reduce the effects. - Regulation by the Federal government has been slight. Even with respect to aircraft noise the pace of abatement at the source has been gradual with no short term prospects for substantial relief. - Regulation by the states has for the most part been limited to selected noise sources although some states are now in process of enacting comprehensive noise abatement statutes. - Most noise abatement regulation has taken place at the local level by means of general noise ordinances or ordinances directed to specific noise sources or by the creation of "quiet zones". - Both State and local governmental levels are handicapped in police power regulation of some of the more critical noise sources as a result of preemptive Federal legislation (aircraft noise) or by the threat of impinging upon a strong national interest in maintaining the free flow of interstate commerce. - Very little attention has been given to construction equipment or site noise, or to domestic noise sources. - Enforcement of noise abatement State statutes and municipal noise ordinances has been notoriously spasmodic and uniformly weak; in general, noise control enforcement has been placed on already overburdened State highway patrols or local police officers. - While both the Federal government and State governments have been slow to intervene in the noise regulatory area, certain trends point to a substantially increased level of effort: Federal level: Noise abatement (occupational) of all businesses operating in interstate commerce, Construction site noise abatement under the Construction Safety Act, Highway design to reduce noise effects. State level: Enactment of comprehensive environmental quality statutes, including environmental noise abatement codes, Enactment of specific legislation designed to control the total noise emissions of vehicles and to regulate the noise level operations of vehicles. Local level: Initial efforts by a few cities to enact comprehensive Environmental Noise Codes covering all or most of the serious noise sources and noise environments subject to municipal regulation, Growing sophistication at all governmental levels in noise abatement and control techniques, including the establishment of decibel levels to replace or supplement verbal-subjective standards, Increasing disposition to broaden coverage of noise sources and noise environments by regulatory schemes and to disseminate through labelling or by other means useful information on noise dangers and abatement techniques to the general public. II - Among the more significant continuing problems in the regulation of environmental noise identified by the Report are the following: - Lack of officials and organized public interest in aggressive noise abatement programs. - Conflict of the social interest in noise abatement with other social values such as safety or free expression which are accorded higher priority in the scheme of social interests. - Intensification of the stress between Federal efforts and State/local noise abatement efforts, especially in those regulatory contexts where Federal preemptive legislation is involved. - Continuing difficulty by State or local authorities to regulate noise to the satisfaction of local conditions and needs where such regulation requires control over the noise source or effects of vehicles, equipment, and appliances regularly moving in or operating in interstate commerce. - Continuing difficulty, due to the multiplicity of noise sources and noise environments, of determining what noise sources or effects are to be controlled by what level of government with respect to the setting of standards or to operating procedures, having appropriate regard for the need of uniformity of regulation in some areas and the need for diversity of regulation to suit unique local conditions in others.

Product Noise Labeling Standards - Draft - Background Document for the Labeling of Hearing Protectors
April 1977
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This Background Document has been prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency in support of the Proposed Noise Labeling Standards for Hearing Protectors. The proposed regulation will be promulgated under the authority of sections 8, 10, 11, and 13 of the Noise COntrol Act of 1972.

Noise Source Regulation in State and Local Noise Ordinances
ONAC
February 1975
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This document has been prepared as a planning and reference guide for public administrators of environmental noise control programs. It presents a summary of noise source regulations encompassed in current state laws and local ordinances. Data have been extracted from only those laws and ordinances stipulating specific decibel levels. For the states, the laws summarized are grouped under the headings: motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, land use, and general. For localities, the headings are: motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, intrusive noise sources, stationary noise sources, construction noise, and miscellaneous noise regulations. Because of the many variations among local jurisdictional regulations, no attempt was made to list the specific noise level requirements for recreational vehicles, construction equipment, or land use.

Guidelines and Sample Training Workbook for Police Enforcement of Noise Regulations
February 1980
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This report is one of the products of a contract between the EPA's Noise Enforcement Division and Jack Faucett Associates, Inc. One purpose of the contract is to develop materials suitable for use in training State and local police officers to enforce their noise control laws.

Analysis of the Health and Welfare and Economic Impacts of Revision of the Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Standard Coincident with a 2-Year Delay in the 80dB Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Standard
March 1985
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Under the authority of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-574) (amended by the Quiet Communities Act of 1978) the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated two key noise regulations for trucks: The Noise Emission Standards for Motor Carriers Engaged in Interstate Commerce (40 CFR Part 202) effective October 15, 1975; and the Noise Emission Standards for Medium and Heavy Trucks (40 CFR Part 205, Subparts A and B) effective January 1, 1978. For brevity, these regulations are referred to in this document as respectively, the IMC (for Interstate Motor Carrier) and the MHT (for Medium and Heavy Trucks) regulations. The IMC regulation set two noise standards for trucks used in interstate commerce: a low-speed limit of 86 decibels and a high-speed limit of 90 decibels. The MHT regulation set a not-to-exceed noise standard of 83 decibels (measured in a low-speed acceleration test) effective January 1, 1978, and a reduced limit of 80 decibels, effective January 1, 1982. As a result of various economic developments and associated industry comments submitted in response to President Carter's initiatives to minimize the burden of regulations, in 1980, the EPA Administrator made a decision to defer the effective date of the MHT 80 dB standard to January 1, 1983. Subsequent contentions by the industry that economic efficiences would be achieved by making the 80 dB MHT standard coincident in time with updated exhaust emission standards for trucks led to further deferral of the 80 dB standard to June 1, 1986. Recently it hes abeen apparent that the revised exhaust emission standards originally scheduled for 1986 would not be promulgated in time for 1986 effectively. Instead, current projections are for a January 1, 1988 effective date for the updated exhaust emission standards. Accordingly, the industry has petitioned for further deferral of the 80 dB MHT standard to retain coincidence with the exhaust emission standards. Recognizing the logical consistency of this petition, the Agency is proposing to defer the 80 dB standards further, to January 1, 1988. In reviewing the Health and Welfare impact of this further deferral of the MHT standard, the Agency finds that there is a modest, but significant loss of benefits. At the same time, the Agency has experienced a renewed awareness of its obligation under the Noise Control Act to update the IMC noise standard to reflect "best available (noise control) technology." Available data on the noise levels of in-use trucks suggests that lowering the IMC noise limits to achieve consistency with the MHT 83 dB standard would provide some improvement in the noisiest portion of the truck fleet. Such improvement in turn is expected to provide health and welfare benefit gains that would compensate at least in part for the benefit losses expected from the MHT deferral. This analysis examines both the economic and the health and welfare impacts of the proposed regulatory actions. It presents the economic effects of these changes in reducing industry costs and the changes in health and welfare benefits resulting from the revised regulations.

Report on: The Contribution of Medium and Heavy Trucks to Community Noise on a National Scale
J.D. Allen; M.D. Kurre
March 1981
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Some of the community noise modelling techniques developed by Battelle for the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers' Association over the past three years have been applied to the problem of calculating the benefits, in terms of community noise reduction, of various promulgated, proposed, and hypothetical medium and heavy truck noise emission regulations. The study involved modelling the national traffic noise exposure, initially for a baseline case, and then for a sequence of different cases in which the model inputs corresponding to the medium and heavy truck noise emission levels were varied to simulate the effect of the regulations on community noise levels. It was found that the contribution of medium and heavy truck powertrains in a pre-regulatory national scenario accounted for nearly one-third of the total community noise exposure resulting from road traffic of all kinds. The 1978 (83 dBA) regulation potentially removes nearly half of the noise exposure of medium and heavy trucks. The 1983 (80 dBA) regulation brings about a less pronounced additional benefit, potentially removing somewhat more than one-fourth of the noise exposure. Still more stringent regulations bring about smaller and smaller additional benefits. The medium and heavy truck noise emission data base was compiled from recent literature. The remainder of the comprehensive data base employed was taken from a single source (EPA, Reference 12) and included: (1) noise emission characteristics of automobiles, light trucks, buses and motorcycles, (2) physical description of road types, including lane number and spacing, (3) attenuation rates for noise propagation through the community, (4) driving characteristics for all vehicle types on all road types, (5) traffic densities, (6) total miles for each road type, and (7) population densities. No attempt was made to verify the data given in Reference 12. It was expedient to perform the calculations with conditions similar to those assumed in EPA's modelling efforts. Not only in the case of input data was it desired to maximize the overlap with EPA calculations, but also in the reporting of the results. Therefore, the number of people exposed to average day-night weighted outdoor community noise levels (ldn) in excess of 55 decibels (A-weighted) was the number used to quantify traffic noise exposure on a national scale. However, because we believe that this method of quantification is insufficient when used alone, our national traffic noise exposures were further defined i terms of exceedance levels and other criterion values for Ldn. The EPA is currently modifying its community noise modelling methodology to make it more sensitive to community noise characteristics not well represented by Ldn.

Glossary of Environmental Terms and Acronym List
December 1989
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This glossary of environmental and acronym list replaces "Common Environmental Terms," published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1974 and revised in 1978. It is designed to give the user an explanation of the more commonly used environmental terms appearing in EPA publications, news releases and other Agency documents available to the general public, students, the news media, and Agency employees. The terms and definitions in this publication were selected to give the user a general sense of what a term or phrase means in relatively non-technical language, although it was obviously necessary to use some scientific terminology. The terms selected for inclusion came from previously published lists, internal glossaries produced by various programs, and specific suggestions made by many Agency programs and offices. The chemicals and pesticides selected for inclusion were those most frequently referred to in Agency publications or which are the subject of major EPA regulatory or program activities. Definitions or information about substances or program activities not included in this glossary may be found in EPA libraries or scientific/technical reference documents or may be obtained from the various program offices. The definitions do not constitute the Agency's official use of terms and phrases for regulatory purposes. Nothing in this document should be construed to in any way alter or supplant any other federal document. Official terminology may be found in the laws and related regulations as published in such sources as the Congressional Record and the Federal Register.

Code of Federal Regulations - Transportation - 49 - Parts 200 to 399
October 1982
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Revised Analysis of the Benefits and Csts of the 80 dB Noise Emission Regulation for Medium and Heavy Trucks
August 1981
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The Agency has committed to review the medium and heavy truck noise emission regulation. This commitment was developed in the context of Secretary Lewis' Task Force on the automotive industry earlier this year. This report presents the results of an updated analysis of the benefits and costs of the 80 dB noise emission regulation for medium and heavy trucks which was originally promulgated in April 1976 (41 FR 15538 - see attached Appendix). The 80 dB regulation is scheduled to become effective January 1, 1983. In updating the analysis, the Agency relied largely on data supplied by the truck industry. Other cost data were derived from the Agency's first-hand experience in quieting and operating trucks in its Quiet Truck Demonstration Program. We developed improved estimates of the health and welfare benefits of the 80 dB regulation by performing computations using the Agency's surface transportation noise computer program which models the Nation's roadway system and population. The relative economic impact of the 80 dB regulation was determined in terms of uniform annualized cost which represents the equal annual (annuity) payments made on a hypothetical loan borrowed byn truck users to pay for the anticipated additional capital expenditures and operating costs resulting from compliance withhe 80 dB regulation.

Industrial Machinery Noise Impact Modeling - Vol. 1
C.H. Hansen; B.A. Kugler
July 1981
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This study describes the development of a machinery noise computer model which may be used to assess the effect of occupational noise on the health and welfare of industrial workers. The porpose of the model is to provide EPA with the methodology to evaluate the personnel noise problem, to identify the equipment types responsible for the exposure and to assess the potential benefits of a given noise control action. Due to its flexibility in design and application, the model and supportive computer program can be used by other federal agencies, state governments, labor and industry as an aid in the development of noise abatement programs. The model is developed based on the Level Weighted Population (LWP), and the fractional impact method used by EPA to assess occupational and environmental noise situations. To provide a comparison with the EPA evaluation, a parallel model based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) noise regulation administered by DOL has also been developed. The parametric design of the computer model allows the user to assess the noise exposure problem in several plants, an industry or a group of industries. Industry data are organized by Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) and the anlysis can be performed by simply identifying a two-, three- or four-digit code depending on the detail required. Specific procedures for field data acquisition are provided. Additional data can be added to the existing data bank as it becomes available. The end result of the evaluation is a rankordering of the machinery items which most contribute to the noise exposure problem in each industry. Furthermore, the effect of any noise control action on a specific equipment item can be quickly evaluated. The accuracy of the results improves as the number of plants in the sample is increased. As an example of the use of the model two industries were surveyed; the Sawmill Industry and the Iron & Steel Foundry Industry. The sample size was nine plants for the sawmill industry and seven plants for the foundry industry. The accuracy of the results obtained using these limited sample sizes is discussed in the text. Recommendations for the inclusion of an iteration procedure for the determination of minimum noise reduction requirements and the corresponding probable costs are also presented.

Noise Source Regulation in State and Local Noise Ordinances
March 1973
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As more noise control regulations are enacted at the state and local levels, it has become more difficult to get an accurate overview of those regulations. What is needed is a planning and reference guide fro public administrators and other officials engaged in developing and implementing noise control programs. To aid in satisfying the need, the Office of Noise Abatement and COntrol of the US Environmental Protection Agency has prepared this document. Presented herein is a summary of noise source regulations encompassed in current state laws and local ordinances. Data has been extracted from only those laws and ordinances stipulating specefic decibel levels. For information on the measurement procedures used, refer to the specific law or ordinance. The state ordinances summarized in this report deal primarily with ground transportation systems. The local ordinances, on the other hand, deal with several different aspects of the noise problem, such as restricting noise from transportation systems and from construction equipment and limiting the noise transmitted across property lines. Because of the many variations among local regulations, no attempt has been made to list the specific noise level requirements contained in local zoning laws and building codes. Because new ordinances will continually be enacted, this publication will be updated at appropriate intervals.

An Evaluation of Strategies to Control Noise From Refuse Collection Vehicles
Sat Agrawal; Donna McCord Dickman; Steve Larson
October 1981
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This report investigated four potential noise control approaches to the control of noise from refuse collection vehicles. These included: (1) the potential impact of a legislative alternative requiring stationary compactors for all new high-rise developments; (2) the effect of a collection curfew; (3) the incorporation of noise into an annual inspection program and (4) the impact of taking no local action and allowing federal regulations to serve as the only control. It provides a mechanism for routine monitoring and isolation of particularly noise vehicles. As this study was performed in Prince George's County, Maryland, where high-rise development is minimal, further consideration for the first alternative was not given.

Code of Federal Regulations - Transportation - 49 - Parts 200 to 399
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Standards on Noise Measurements, Rating Schemes, and Definitions: A Compilation
Thomas L. Quindry
April 1976
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This compilation deals with material assembled from the various standards, industrial and trade organizations, or technical and scientific societies concerned with acoustics. There has been no attempt to review or evaluate the standards, but rather just to list documents covering measurement techniques, calibration methods, definitions, rating schemes, and equipment and product specifications concerned with noise. Those standards dealing solely with ultrasonics, audio equipment, or shock and vibration have not generally been included. The paragraphs describing the standards give a brief summary of intent and/or scope of the standard. In some cases the paragraph is the official description of the standard as issued by the organization or society promulgating the standard, while in others the paragraph merely describes the intent of the standard. Proposed standards are also listed where available. Not listed are proposed revisions of current standards and those which must be reapproved to remain in effect. For the convenience of those readers wishing to purchase copies of standards, names and addresses for the various organizations and/or societies are provided. Federal Regulations directly involving noise measurements are given in Appendix A. Appendix B lists active committees for each organization and names and addresses of appropriate committee chairmen or technical contacts. This compilation includes all information available as of January 1, 1976.

Noise Source Regulation in State and Local Noise Ordinances
March 1973
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Environmental Impact Statement for the Noise Emission Regulations for Motorcycles and Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
December 1980
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This document presents an assessment of the expected benefits and impacts of the final noise emission regulations for motorcycles and motorcycle exhaust systems. The information presented includes a description of the motorcycle and motorcycle exhaust noise problem, the statutory basis for action, a summary of the regulation, State and local programs complementary to Federal noise emission standards for motorcycles and motorcycle exhaust systems, the rationale for regulation, the expected benefits of the regulation, the potential economic effects of the regulation, public comments on the draft environmental impact statement, and conclusions.

Docket Analysis for the Noise Emission Regulations for Motorcycles and Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
December 1980
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This document presents all comments received from the public regarding the proposed noise emission regulations for motorcycles and motorcycle exhaust systems and the Federal government's responses to each comment. The comments include written submissions received during the 90-day public comment period, and testimony received at the three public hearings. The comments and Agency responses address: health and welfare benefits of the regulation; economic effects of the regulation; noise control technology; enforcement of the regulation; test procedures; Acoustical Assurance Period and Sound Level Degradation Factor; labeling; mopeds; and general comments. The document also presents a statistical breakdown of all comments.

Regulatory Analysis Appendices for the Noise Emission Regulations for Motorcycles and Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
December 1980
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This document includes detail information that supplements section 1 through 8 of the regulatory analysis. In addition it includes an analysis of State, local, and foreign motorcycle noise regulations and a summary of the motorcycle national emphasis plan.

Regulatory Analysis for the Noise Emission Regulations for Motorcycles and Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
December 1980
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This document presents the technical data and analyses used by EPA in developing the noise emission regulations fro motorcycles and motorcycle exhaust systems. The information presented includes a detailed discussion of: the motorcycle and motorcycle exhaust systems industry; baseline noise levels for current motorcycles; the noise control technology available; the adverse health and welfare impacts of motorcycle noise and the potential benefits of regulation; the expected costs and potential economic effects of regulation; and the noise measurement methodology.

Rail Yard Noise Measurement Data - Appendix B - Background Document for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation
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Average Noise Levels for Highway Vehicles
Kenneth J. Plotkin
September 1979
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Noise emission data are presented for 14 vehicle categories representing the nation's highway vehicle fleet. The data are presented in a format supporting idealized noise versus speed relations for acceleration, deceleration and cruise operating modes. The kinematics of these modes are presented. Noise data, collected from a variety of sources, represent the most recent available 50 foot (15 meter) passby levels. The purpose of this data collection is to provide vehicle input parameters for EPA's national highway noise exposure model. This model requires energy averaged quantities over each operating mode. The emission model was therefore integrated to give the required calculated model emission levels. In addition to the baseline (pre-regulatory) levels, calculated model levels are presented for a variety of new vehicle regulatory standards.

Regulatory Impact Analysis, Oxides of Nitrogen Pollutant Specific Study and Summary and Analysis of Comments
March 1985
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As required by Executive Order 12291, this document has been prepared to summarize the results of all analyses conducted in support of the final rule for gaseous emission regulations for 1988 and later model year light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty engines and for particulate emission regulations for 1988 and later model year heavy-duty diesel engines. In addition, this document also provides a summary and analysis of most of the comments received in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (49 FR 40258 October 15, 1984). Included here is a consideration of the technological feasibility, economic impact, environmental effects and cost effectiveness of the standards along with the development of data on the impacts of several regulatory alternatives. The remaining issues raised by commenters to this rulemaking are reviewed and responded to in the preamble. These include the proposed averaging program, allowable maintenance provisions and high altitude standards. The oxides of nitrogen (NOx) environmental impact analysis contained in this document also serves as the NOx pollutant-specific study required by Section 202(a)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act. The material presented in this document deals primarily with those areas of the draft Regulatory Impact Analysis-[L] which were the subject of public comment. Areas of analysis which were not commented upon are repeated here only where needed to aid the understanding of material being revised. The draft analysis is therefore incorporated into this document by reference for treatment of topics not specifically re-addressed herein.

Hillsborough County, Florida - Case History of a County Noise Control Program
August 1979
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This technical case study of the noise program in Hillsborough County, Florida, was developed to enable noise officials from other counties and communities to benefit from Hillsborough County's experience in developing and enforcing a noise ordinance (rule). This study was prepared under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Noise Abatement and Control. Study of this county's noise control program was conducted not only because it is typical of active programs in the southeastern United States but also because hillsborough County officials demonstrated that numerical noise limits are preferable to nuisance noise laws in resolving noise problems. However, the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) which enforces the noise rule also enforces air and water rules so that EPC staff works only part-time on the noise program on a limited annual budget. Partly because of these limitations, and partly because of legal procedures required for disposition of a willful noise violation, voluntary compliance is relied upon for resolving the majority of noise problems. In spite of current limitations and past program development problems, support for enforcement of the county noise rule continues to grow.

Noise Source Regulations in State and Local Noise Ordinances
Vijay K. Kohli
August 1979
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The Noise Control Act of 1972 authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide technical assistance to States and local communities to facilitate development and implementation of their environmental noise control programs. To insure that the EPA technical assistance program is responsive to needs of States and local communities, EPA periodically updates a summary of State and local noise regulations. This document updates EPA 550/9-75-020, entitled "Noise Source Regulations in State and local Ordinances", February 1975. It is prepared as a planning and reference guide for State and local officials engaged in the development and implementation of environmental noise control programs. The information included in this report is taken largely from noise ordinances submitted to EPA as part of the response to the 1977-78 Environmental Noise COntrol Program Survey, but is supplemented by other source material available at the time of writing. No attempt has been made to solicit copies of ordinances from states or communities not included in the survey. Therefore, the information contained in this report is not all-inclusive. For further information, the reader should refer to specific laws or ordinances. The State laws summarized in this report are arranged under the following headings: -Motor Vehicles (or Self-Propelled Vehicles), -Recreational Vehicles, -Land Use. The local ordinances are presented under the following headings: -Motor Vehicles (or Self-Propelled Vehicles), -Recreational Vehicles, -Land Use, -Construction, -Intrusive Sources.

Handbook for Motor Vehicle Noise Enforcement
Gale R. Hruska
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Often a police officer's only introduction to noise enforcement is when someone puts a sound level meter in one of his hands and a copy of the town noise ordinance in the other, and he is told to :go out and quiet those %*!!!&*! motorcycles." The purpose of this booklet is to provide some elementary instruction in the fundamentals of motor vehicle noise enforcement. The three main topics to be covered are: (1) sound and its characteristics, (2) the sound level meter, and (3) enforcement procedures.

Laws and Regulatory Schemes for Noise Abatement
December 1971
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Regulatory Analysis Supporting the General Provisions for Product Noise Labeling
August 1979
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This document presents information used by EPA in developing the General Provisions for Product Noise Labeling including: a review of other Federal labeling programs; the major issues involved in formulating a general approach to product noise labeling; the approach to the design graphics; potential technical problems associated with the development of specific noise rating schemes; the Agency's response to comments, and resolution of issues raised during the pubic comment period; an analysis of the public comment to understand the public perception of product noise labeling; and the participation of the public throughout the development of the regulation.

Memorandum to William D Ruckelshaus - Petition for Reconsideration - Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I, Part 205 Transport Equipment, Noise Emission Control, Medium and Heavy Trucks
September 1983
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Environmental Impact Statement for Final Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation: Source Standards
December 1979
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Information on FAA Certification of Aircraft
Carl Modig
January 1975
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Under Section 7 of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-574), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized to propose to the Federal Aviation Administration, aircraft noise regulations, including the application of such regulations in the issuance, amendment, modification, suspension or revocation of any certificate authorized by the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 1431). This study was undertaken to furnish EPA with an overview of aircraft type certification regulations (e.g., original type, supplemental, airworthiness, etc.) through which aviation noise regulations are or could be implemented.

Background Document for Final Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation: Source Standards
December 1979
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Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation - Part II
July 1979
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Official Docket for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation - Part I
July 1979
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Regulatory Analysis Supporting the Noise Labeling Requirements for Hearing Protectors
August 1979
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This document contains information used by EPA in developing the Noise Labeling Requirements for Hearing Protectors including: a description of hearing protector devices, factors affecting selection, and a discussion of the various methods for measuring protector effectiveness; the procedure used to calculate single-number effectiveness ratings; an overview of the industry; the Agency's response to comments, and resolution of issues raised during the public comment period; and the participation of the public throughout the development of the regulation.

Final Regulatory Analysis of the Hearing Conservation Amendment
January 1981
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The effects of occupational noise can be divided into two principal categories: auditory effects and extra-auditory effects. There is a wealth of information on the relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss. Dose-response relationships have been well established. Numerous studies are available which describe the effects of noise on hearing as a function of level and duration. The effects are stated in terms of the audiometric frequencies at which the loss occurs, the degeree of hearing loss, the anatomical changes (in animal experiments), and the differential changes in hearing as variables such as age and sex interact with noise exposure. The extra-auditory effects of noise involve complex physiological reactions, which are much more difficult to document. Although stress-related illnesses have been associated with noise exposure, the multitude of factors which contribute to stress confounds efforts to provide a direct "cause and effect" relationship between noise and such stress-related conditions as hypertension or ulcers. Although precise dose-response relationships are lacking at this time, information on the extra-auditory effects is included in this discussion because the data are highly suggestive or adverse effects, and therefore provide added incentive for protecting noise exposed workers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Proposed Revised Noise Emission Regulation For Interstate Rail Carriers
William E. Roper
April 1979
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Federal Noise Research in Noise Effects
February 1978
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The Federal Noise Effects Research Program was documented and reviewed. The program expanded slightly over the last few years, with more aencies participating. The program is reasonably comprehensive and in general coordinated with no unjustified overlap of efforts. Research needs to support and justify regulatory and standards requirements were identified by the Panel as being of the highest priority. Satisfaction of these relatively short term goals with present budget restrictions could jeopardize long-range basic research needs to understand basic effects mechanisms. To satisfy both requirements, the Panel on the average recommends an increase of the overall Federal noise effects research budget of 40%. The Panel recommends several specific research topics for high priority funding. Some of these recommendations are the same ones listed among the 1974 recommendations, and the Panel was concerned about the only partial responsiveness to previous findings. Among the areas requiring additional support are effects of noise on sleep, and community or collective response. The area primarily requiring additional support priority and clarification is the area of non-auditory health effects, since no major well planned program for this area was apparent.

Toward a National Strategy for Noise Control
April 1977
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This document has been developed to continue the dialogue on the overall goals of the noise program, the role of the government, the role of consumers, and the role of industry in noise control, along with the selection of specific abatement and enforcement activities for EPA. It establishes a general framework for making decisions on the best strategy that EPA can employ to combat noise pollution. The primary goal of the Agency in the noise pollution area is to promote an environment for all Americans, free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare. In order to reach this legislatively mandated objective five specific operational goals have been formulated. These are: A. To take all practical steps to eliminate hearing loss resulting from noise exposure; B. To reduce environmental noise exposure to an Ldn value of no more than 75 dB immediately; C. To reduce noise exposure levels to Ldn 65 dB by vigorous regulatory and planning actions; D. To strive for an eventual reduction of noise levels to an Ldn of 55 dB; and E. To encourage and assist other Federal, State, and local agencies in the adoption and implementation of long range noise control policies.

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.

Noise Emission Measurements for Regulatory Purposes
D.R. Flynn; W.A. Leasure Jr.; A.I. Rubin; M.A. Cadoff
March 1977
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A review is given of the measurement needs attendant to regulation of the noise generated and emitted by commercial products. The emphasis is primarily on measurement procedures for use in conjunction with point-of-sale regulations as opposed to regulations on the noise which a source actually emits when in operation. The report is divided into three major parts. Part I is a discussion of overall measurement requirements and the type of data and information which are needed in order to promulgate regulations based on appropriate measurement techniques. Part II is designed as a checklist for the evaluation of the suitability of a noise measurement standard for a particular class of products or, in the absence of a suitable standard, as a framework for development of one. The intent is to identify and discuss in some detail those factors which can impact on the accuracy, precision, and applicability of a noise measurement process. Part III consists of a series of flow charts depicting the development appropriate procedures for the measurement of product noise emission.

Code of Current Practices for Enforcement of Noise Ordinances
F.M. Kessler; M. Alexander
July 1981
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This report provides communities interested in adopting a noise control ordinance with measurement procedures for effective enforcement. The first segment discusses the theory of sound, terminology, and computation methods. Vibration measurement and criteria are also presented. The second segment of this report presents the current measurement procedures. Noise and vibration measurement procedures are presented for stationary noise sources. These include statistical sampling and steady sound techniques, both weighted and octave band. Both roadway (passby) and stationary sound level measurement methods are provided for automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. Sound measurement procedures are also included for buses, construction equipment, model vehicles, recreation vehicles, and refuse collection vehicles. Sketches of the measurement sites and forms for reporting measured data are provided for each measurement procedure.

Evaluation of Commercial Integrating-Type Noise Exposure Meters
William A. Leasure Jr.; Ronald L. Fisher; Marylin A. Cadoff
December 1973
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As a result of the promulgation of occupational noise exposure regulations by the Federal government, there are a number of commercial noise exposure meters on the market today that provide a measure of noise integrated (with appropriate weighting) over a time interval. This report presents the results of an evaluation of such instruments by the National Bureau of Standards (under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) as to their usefulness in monitoring compliance with occupational noise regulations as well as their applicability as instruments for use in achieving the broader goals of the EPA. Tests were designed and conducted to evaluate microphone and system response to sound of random incidence, frequency response, crest factor capability, accuracy of the exchange rate circuitry, performance of the noise exposure meter as a function of temperature, and the dependence of the device on battery voltage. The rationals of the test procedures utilized to evaluate overall system as well as specific performance attributes, details of the measurement techniques, and results obtained are discussed.

Background Document to Proposed Interstate Motor Carrier Regulations
November 1973
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Through the Noise Control Act of 1972 (86 Stat. 1234), Congress established a national policy "to promote an environment for all Americans free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare." In pursuit of that policy, Congress stated, in Section 2 of that Act, "that, while primary responsibility for control of noise rests with state and local governments, Federal action is essential to deal with major noise sources in commerce, control of which requires national uniformity of treatment." As a part of that essential Federal action, Section 18 of that Act (86 Stat. 1249) directed the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish proposed noise emission regulations for motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce. Motor carriers subject to such regulations include common carriers by motor vehicle, contract carriers by motor vehicle and private carriers of property by motor vehicle as these terms are defined by paragraphs (14), (15), and (17) of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. 303 (a).

Economic Impact of Proposed Airport Noise Regulations, R77-4 - Volume IV: Economic Analysis of O'Hare and Midway Airports
Marvin Frankel; Lise Zwisler
November 1981
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Estimate of the Impact of Noise from Jet Aircraft Air Carrier Operations
Kenneth M. Eldred
September 1980
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This report contains an update and revision of the estimated noise impact of airport jet air carrier operations in the years 1975 and 2000. These estimates are based on the current takeoff flight procedures; the 1979 FAA fleet forecast, and current definitions of new technology aircraft. They do not assume additional regulatory actions, either in aircraft noise certification or in airport operations, nor do they assume additional noise control efforts on the part of individual airports. These results are based largely on the methodology and data contained in a prior study [1], except for updating certain basic information in that study from 1975 to 1979 and revising a part of the methodology for estimating population impacted. The sensitivity of the results with respect to changes in these four factors has been investigated with a simplified noise characteristics vs. area impact model. The model directly relates the noise characteristic, Ldn, calculated at a 1000-ft slant distance, for each of the four busy runway average airport fleets to the area contained within each Ldn contour, as calculated in Ref. 1. The model was calibrated for current standard takeoff procedures using three cases from the Ref. 1 study which covered the range of results from maximum to minimum impact. The model enables evaluation of the variation of both noise and operations parameters, but not takeoff flight procedures, over a much wider range of alternatives than those considered in this report.

Noise Control Technology Evaluation for Supersonic Transport Category Aircraft
Kenneth M. Eldred
July 1980
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Noise control technology applicable to supersonic transport (SST) category aircraft is evaluated in view of the restraints of the Noise Control Act of 1972, which restricts both the EPA and the FAA to noise regulations that meet considerations of "safety, economic reasonableness, technological practicability, and appropriateness to type of aircraft." The effect of such constraints on the design goal for second-generation SSTs is considered. The report contains five sections. Section 2 develops a basic perspective on the noise of subsonic and supersonic aircraft and the general relationships between their airframe and engine performance characteristics, noise certification standards and noise impact. Section 3 summarizes the status of individual elements of noise control technology including engine, aerodynamics, and operational procedures. Section 4 reviews some of the integrated airfram-engine noise integration studies, and Section 5 attempts to summarize where noise and the SST stand with respect to technology. This report is based on information developed and made available prior to Fall 1978.

Memorandum - Termination of Noise Regulatory Activities - Schedule Status
Louise P. Giersch
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Memorandum - Noise Office Regulatory Phase-Out Actions
Kathleen M. Bennett
May 1982
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Cost and Price Impacts of an 80-dBA Truck Noise Regulation
E.K. Bender; R.L. Bronsdon; J.A. Kane
June 1981
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This report deals with the incremental price and cost impacts of implementing an 80-dBA noise regulation for medium and heavy duty trucks. The incremental impacts represent the price and cost differential of moving from the current 83-dBA regulation to an 80-dBA regulation. The results are based on updated estimates from the original Background Document, product verification reports, and estimates developed from the Quiet Truck Demonstration Program.

Overview of the Noise Decision Model - Executive Summary
May 1983
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The Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control (EPA ONAC), developed and extensively used a tool to assist in the anlysis and selection of regulatory options for all products identified and subject to noise emission regulations under the Noise Control Act. This tool, the Noise Decision Model (NDM), is a computerized model that provides a way of comparing alternative regulatory options under consideration by decision/policy-makers on the basis of benefits or effectiveness and cost. The model provides the Office with a tool for the rapid computation and display of relevant data required for selecting the preferred regulatory alternative. In addition, results obtained from executing this model are directly applicable to meeting regulatory review requirements for final rules under Executive Order 12291. This report documents the salient features of the NOM. In addition, a brief statement on its origin is made.

Toward a National Strategy for Noise Control
April 1977
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This document has been developed to continue the dialogue on the overall goals of the noise program, the role of government, the role of consumers, and the role of industry in noise control, along with the selection of specific abatement and enforcement activities for EPA. It establishes a general framework for making decisions on the best strategy that EPA can employ to combat noise pollution. The primary goal of the Agency in the noise pollution area is to promote an environment for all Americans, free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare. In order to reach this legislatively mandated objective five specific operational goals have been formulated. These are: (A)To take all practical steps to eliminate hearing loss resulting from noise exposure; (B)To reduce environmental noise exposure to an Ldn value of no more than 75 dB immediately; (C)To reduce noise exposure levels to Ldn 65 dB by vigorous regulatory and planning actions; (D)To strive for an eventual reduction of noise levels to an Ldn of 55 dB; and (E)To encourage and assist other Federal, State and local agencies in the adoption and implementation of long range noise control policies.

Noise Standards for Aircraft Type Certification (Modifications to Far Part 36)
William C. Sperry; Damon C. Gray
August 1976
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This document presents and discusses the background data used by the Agency in the development of proposed noise control regulations for promulgation by the FAA in conformance with the Noise Control Act of 1972. The proposed regulations pertain to control of airplane noise at the source and would amend the existing Federal Aviation Regulations PART 36 (FAR 36). FAR 36 was the first type certification regulation for aircraft noise prescribed by any nation. It is a comprehensive rule containing highly technical appendices whose purposes are to require the maximum feasible use of noise control technology, to set standards for the acquisition of noise levels, and to obtain data useful for predicting the noise impact in airport neighborhood communities. Since the promulgation of FAR 36 in 1969, noise control technology has advanced substantially, the significance of community noise impact is much better understood, and the techniques and equipment for data acquisition and reduction have improved considerably. It is appropriate, therefore, to consider amendments to FAR 36 with the objective of strengthening and extending the original purposes, and , in particular, to eliminate any ambiguities that may exist.

Memorandum - Noise Regulations
John M. Ropes
December 1981
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Draft Report on Review and Analysis of Present and Planned FAA Noise Regulatory Actions and Their Consequences Regarding Aircraft and Airport Operations for Environmental Protection gency Aircraft/Airport Noise Report Study
June 1973
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Memorandum - EPA Noise Regulatory Actions - Decision Memorandum
John M. Ropes
December 1981
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Noise Emission Regulation for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors (TMSWC) (Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) or Garbage Trucks) (40 CFR Part 205) - Backgrounder
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Background Document for Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Emission Regulations
ONAC
March 1976
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On March 31, 1976, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a regulation governing noise emissions from medium and heavy trucks. That regulation was issued under Section 6 of the Noise Control Act of 1972. This document presents and discusses the background data used by the Agency in setting the standards contained in the regulation. Presented here is a comprehensive exposition on the most up-to-date available information on the environmental, technological, and economic aspects of medium and heavy truck noise.

Memorandum - Termination of Noise Regulation Development: Decision Memorandum
Kathleen M. Bennett
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Noise Emission Regulation for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors (TMSWC) (Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) or Garbage Trucks) (40 CFR Part 205) - Questions and Answers
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Experimental Study of the Effect of the Difference Between "Hard" and "Soft" Ground Surfaces on Truck Noise Measurements
November 1978
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Data on truck noise measurements have been gathered for two trucks, operating in accordance with the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Noise Regulations, over "hard" and "soft" sites, and for various intermediate surface conditions. The results, averaged for all operating conditions, indicate a difference between hard and soft sites that increases with both the percentage of site hardness and with microphone distance. The generally accepted difference of + 2 dB(A) between hard-site and soft-site data specified in the BMCS regulations is seen to be approximately correct for IMI tests, but about 1 dB(A) low for passby tests at 50 ft. These results confirm those reported by other investigators.

Noise Emission Regulation for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors (TMSWC) (Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) or Garbage Trucks) (40 CFR Part 205) - Fact Sheet
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The Balance Sheet Technique: Volume II: Preconstruction Review of Airports: Review of State Regulations, Projects Affected and Resource Requirements
Sarah J. LaBelle; Dorathea A. Seymour; Albert E. Smith; Michael Harbour
February 1977
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This volume of the report contains the results of several surveys and analyses to ascerrtain the effect of airport indirect source review (ISR) requirements. This material is all dated, in the sense that the survey of state activities and the forecast of proposed construction are accurate as of the date the survey was completed. The material does shec light on the magnitude of the problems posed by indirect source review of airports. In conjunction with the test case results presented in Volume I of this report, a fairly clear picture of the effect of such regulation emerges. The regulation would in fact cause review of 30-50 major airport projects that may not be reviewed under any other program. The airports are significant regional sources of hydrocarbon emissions, and become more so over the ten year planning horizon.

Administrative Conference of the United States: The Dormant Noise Control Act and Options to Abate Noise Pollution - Noise and Its Effects
Sidney A. Shapiro; Alice H. Suter
November 1991
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In early 1981, the Director of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was informed that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had decided to end funding of ONAC and that the matter was non-negotiable. Congress' eventual acquiescence in OMB's action was, and remains, unique. Of the twenty-eight environmental and health and safety statutes passes between 1958 and 1980, the Noise Control Act of 1972 (NCA) stands alone in being stripped of budgetary support. Since Congress did not repeal the NCA when it eliminated ONAC's funding, EPA remains legally responsible for enforcing the regulations it issued under the Act, but without any budget support legislated for that purpose. Moreover, although some of the regulations are now out of date, and others may be inadequate, EPA's lack of budgetary support effectively precludes their amendment. Since the NCA preempts local and state governments from regulating noise sources in many situations, these levels of government may not be able to step into the void created by COngress' decision not to fund EPA. This report considers the future of noise abatement in the United States and what role EPA should play in that function. Part I describes the history of noise abatement in the United States before ONAC was created, during its tenure, and after its abolition. Part II evaluates the role of local and state governments in noise reduction and EPA's relationship to such efforts. Part III assesses the role of the federal government and EPA in noise reduction. The report concludes that it would be unfortunate for COngress to maintain the status quo where EPA has ongoing legal duties, but it has no funding to carry them out. Although Congress could eliminate the federal government's responsibilities for noise abatement, the NCA, with modifications, should remain in force. This does not mean, however, that EPA should merely pick up where it left off 10 years ago. Instead of relying primarily on emissions controls as it did previously, EPA should emphasize abatement approaches that rely on local and state activity, on market incentives, and on coordination with other agencies, private standard-setting groups, and regulatory agencies in other countries.

Guidelines for Developing a Training Program in Noise Survey Techniques
William Gately; Paul L. Michael; George W. Kamperman
July 1975
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The report contains guidelines for the content, format, organization, and administration of a training program for noise survey technicians. It is intended to provide assistance to State and local governements in setting up a training program with the following objective: the training of technicians to assist in the enforcement of noise ordinances and investigation of noise complaints. The program is directed toward trainees with a minimum of a high school education and no previous experience in acoustics. The report outlines and explains material to be covered in a 4 1/2 day training program.

Environmental Assessment of Airport Development Actions
January 1977
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The purpose of this document is to provide specific step-by-step guidance on the preparation of environmental impact assessment reports and statements for airport projects in accordance with DOT/FAA, EPA, CEQ, and other regulatory and reviewing agency requirements. It is intended that this document provide instructional material which will extend beyond present guidelines which state what impacts to consider; the guidance book is designed to explain how each potential impact should be approached, analyzed, referenced, and presented. Included in this text are instructions on how to collect and analyze environmental impact data so as to provide clear, responsive documentation in conformance with specifc Federal, state and local laws and regulations. This book covers all steps of the study and review process including assessment methodologies and report preparation, public hearing presentation, responses to comments raised by reviewing agencies and the general public, and final statement preparation....

Background Document/Environmental Explanation for Proposed Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulations
June 1974
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Guidelines for State and Local Governments on the Filing and Processing of Applicants for Preemption Waiver Determinations under Section 17 (c)(2) of the Noise Control Act of 1972
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Community Noise Ordinances: Their Evolution, Purpose and Impact
Clifford R. Bragdon
March 1973
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In the United States most municipal noise ordinances initially regulated street related activities, however, these early provisions were generally non-quantitative and consequently unenforceable. The first ordinances containing specific permissible noise levels regulated either activities fixed to the land (industrial activity being the primary source) or automobile and trucks operating on roadways. Today more comprehensive ordinances are evolveing and these regulations are the basis for expanded municipal noise control programs. Their impact has varied due to the quality, content and administration of these ordinances. Recently approved Federal noise legislation (Noise Control Act of 1972) will have a profound influence on the quality and quantity of municipal ordinances.

Background Document/Environmental Explanation for Proposed Interstate Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulations
March 1974
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The study of railroad noise is relatively new. Most of the information and data contained in this report has been generated during the past year. It is important to note that this report and the proposed regulations are an initial step in a continuing effort to understand and reduce railroad noise. The Agency wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of a multitude of parties and to extend its appreciation for their efforts. Those parties include, but are by no means limited to, The Department of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads, and the National Bureau of Standards.

Final Environmental Impact Statement
January 1981
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This amendment to the occupational noise standard imposes requirements for hearing conservation programs. It will beneficially impact the workplace environment by reducing hearing loss and other adverse health effects associated with noise exposure. The environment outside the workplace should not be significantly affected as a result of promulgation of the amendment. Minimal increases in capital costs and an increase in operating costs for some industries may occur. OSHA considered other reasonable alternatives in the development of the amendment: (1) revision of the permissible exposure limits for noise, (2) initiation of hearing conservation programs at higher or lower levels, (3) revision of the monitoring, testing, and training provisions, and (4) "no regulatory action." OSHA may conduct future proceedings concerning these and other alternatives.

Experimental Study of the Effect of the Difference Between "Hard" and "Soft" Ground Surfaces on Truck Noise Measurements
November 1978
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EPA 40 CFR Part 205 - Deferral of Effective Dates
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This is an advance copy, as signed by the administrator fo the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on January 19, 1981 of a one year deferral of the effective dates of the medium and heavy truck and truck-mounted solid waste compactor noise emission regulations.

Municipal/State Noise Ordinances - Reprinted with Permission of "Sound & Vibration" Magazine
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The enactment of city noise ordinances continues to grow in the United States. Compiled below is the current list of 652 municipalities with noise regulations, up 21% over the 1975 figure of 539. These ordinances now affect a combined population of over 67 million people. There is a continuing interest in enacting legislation with quantitative noise emission limits which replace non-quantitative or general nuisance provisions...

Final Environmental and Economic Impact Statement - Noise Emission Regulations for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors
August 1979
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This document presents an assessment of the expected environmental benefits and economic effects of the Noise Emission Regulations for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors. The informations presented includes the statuatory basis for the action, a summary of the regulation, a description of the existing truck-mounted solid waste compactor environment, the alternatives considered, the expected environmental benefits, the expected economic effects, and conclusions.

NRTA-AARP - Noise Counseling Program
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The Community Noise Counseling Program sponsored by The National Retired Teachers Association-American Association of Retired Persons, was initiated September 22, 1978 with contractual agreement with EPA-ONAC. The Administration of the program was the responsibility of the Association's Senior Community Service Employment Program, Special Programs, and from the start was carried on in conjunction with the Older Worker Employment Program. SCSEP eligible enrollees were recruited and assigned to the Noise Counseling Program by Project Directors in local projects where needs were identified and the site selection was made and approved by EPA program officials. Linda Scott was hired as Program Coordinator for the Program, and was given the responsibility of training and supervising the selected enrollee Noise Counselors. Eight selected enrollees were given formal training in October, 1978. In addition to the SCSEP program enrollees assigned, several volunteers were recruited and given both formal and individualized training in Community Noise Abatement projects. In evaluating the Program, nothing stands out as much as the excellent performance of these Older Worker Program enrollees, when given: a meaningful job and assigned to a specific task; training and guidance to prepare them; and support and motivation from the SCSEP Projects and the community. In the words of the EPA Project Officer; "The program is very valuable to EPA because it works". When given the challenge, the Noise Counselors responded. The increased awareness in their communities is well documented by publicity, letters of commendation, and on going public service announcements, and, in general, increased efforts to pass meaningful local noise legislation by local officials, and increased enforcement for existing noise ordinances in their communities have been as a result of their efforts.

Review and Analysis of Present and Planned FAA Noise Regulatory Actions and Their Consequences Regarding Aircraft and Airport Operations
July 1973
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The purpose of this report is to examine the existing and proposed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and to consider their effectiveness in furnishing protection to the public health and welfare and to consider their effectiveness in furnishing protection to the public health and welfare and to consider whether they adequately exploit the available technology. This report begins with a review of the legislative history of noise control and briefly identifies the regulatory status of the FAA and relevant noise control actions of several state and local authorities....

Noise Emission Standards for Surface Transportation Equipment - Regulatory Analysis of the Noise Emission Regulations for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors
August 1979
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This document presents the technical data and analysis used by EPA in developing the Noise Emission Regulations for Truck-Mounted Solid Waste Compactors. The information presented includes a detailed description of the truck-mounted solid waste compactor industry and the product; baseline noise levels for current compactors; a description of the measurement methodology; an analysis of the health and welfare impacts and potential benefits of regulation; the noise control technology available; an analysis of the costs and potential economic effects of regulation; the enforcement procedures; existing local, state, and foreign regulations applicable to compactor noise emissions; an analysis of comments to the public docket; and a description of the participation of the public throughout the development of the regulation.

Background Document for Proposed Revision to Rail Carrier Noise Emission Regulation
February 1979
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Residential

See also Community Noise, Urban.

Energy Conservation and Noise Control in Urban Residences: Demonstration Program Plan
David N. Keast; Donna D. Berman
September 1979
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Planning activities have been underway for about five months to design an Energy Conservation and Noise Control Demonstration Program for the decade of the 1980s. This effort has been under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Bureau of Standards. The resulting plan for conducting the demonstration is discussed in this report.

Development of a Mechanical Equipment Noise-Control Permit Scheme for Model Building Code
Warren E. Blazier Jr.; Nicholas P. Miller; David A. Towers
August 1981
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This report deals with the development of noise-control approaches applicable to a mechanical equipment permit schema for commercial, business, institutional, and residential high-rise buildings. The report identifies and categorizes mechanical equipment as noise sources. The equipment is classified and rank-ordered in the basis of potential noise impact. A series of worksheets and guidelines are presented for use in performing the calculations necessary to evaluate a given mechanical design for exterior noise impact. A mechanical equipment permit scheme is explained for use by a community. In developing this scheme the authors first examined the strengths and weaknesses of enforcement strategies currently being used by various jurisdictions throughout the country. These existing strategies are evaluated in terms of effectiveness, feasibility, enforcement costs and legal provisions. In making an evaluation emphasis is placed upon these enforcement practices which increase the probability that mechanical-equipment noise will be controlled.

Fundamentals and Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise
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During recent years there has undoubtedly been an increase in environmental noise. In addition, everyone has become more aware of noise. Although the growth of noise may be a symbol of growth in technology, the increased awareness of the public toward noise has brought on a rapid response everywhere in trying to abate noise. Highway traffic noise is one of the identifiable problem areas; this has been caused by (1) increased vehicular size and quantity, (2) greater concentration of traffic on major highway routes, and (3) increased use of land near highways to fill the residential and commercial needs of a growing population. In recognition of this problem, on 26 April 1972, the Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA") of the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an advance copy of its Policy and Procedure Memorandum ("PPM") 90-2 on "Interim Noise Standards and Procedures for Implementing Section 109 (i) of Title 23, United States Code." This was updated by the 8 February 1973 final version of PPM 90-2, entitled "Noise Standards and Procedures", a copy of which is included at the end of this textbook. To assist in the understanding and implementing of PPM 90-2, the FHWA has made provision for conducting a one-week training course in the "Fundamentals and Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise." This course is being given in 1973 in each of the Field Regions of the FHWA and is available to qualified, selected personnel from the various State highway agencies and the FHWA field offices. The training course has been prepared and is being given by the staff of Bolt Beranel and Newman Inc., acoustical consultants. This manual serves as the textbook for the training course.

Acoustical and Thermal Performance of Exterior Residential Walls, Doors and Windows
Hale J. Sabine; Myron B. Lacher; Daniel R. Flynn; Thomas L. Quindry
November 1975
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Laboratory tests of sound transmission loss, thermal transmittance, and rate of air leakage were conducted on full scale (9 feet high x 14 feet wide; 2.7 x 4.3 meters) specimens of typical residential exterior wall constructions, either unbroken or penetrated by a door or window. The walls were of wood frame construction with gypsum board drywall interior finish and exterior finish finishes of wood siding, stucco, or brick veneer. Additional acoustical tests were run on a number of individual doors and windows. A total of 109 acoustical tests and 48 thermal tests are reported. The resultant data are compared with literature data on similar constructions. Correlations developed among the several quantities measured will assist more rational design where both energy conservation and noise isolation must be considered.

Acoustical and Vibrational Performance of Floating Floors
Istvan L. Ver
October 1969
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The purpose of the investigations described in this report was to provide better understanding of the acoustical and vibrational performance of floating floors and to use the knowledge gained for the preparation of design charts. The behavior of the sound and vibration transmission of floating floors in the low-frequency and high-frequency range were analyzed separately. In the low-frequency region, the basic resonance frequency, above which excess attenuation becomes possible, was calculated. The high-frequency behavior was investigated by the statistical energy analysis method. In order to evaluate the theoretical results, we measured dynamic stiffness and loss factors of various commonly used resilient mounts. For all measured mounts, the dynamic stiffness was found to be frquency independent and ti increase with increasing static load. The theoretical investigation showed that the lowest possible basic resonance is given by the surface mass of the floating floor and the stiffness of the trapped air cushion. It is demonstrated that properly loaded neoprene, precompressed glass fiber, or cork mounts, being nearly as soft as the trapped air, enable one to approach this basic resonance frequency. Well above the basic resonance frequency, the excess sound transmission loss obtained by adding the floating slab increases with a slope of 30 dB/decade. This large potential excess attenuation can be only partially realized because of unavoidable flanking transmission through the walls common to the source and receiving rooms. A simple engineering procedure is suggested for estimating the flanking transmission.

Blasting Vibrations and Their Effects on Structures
Harry R. Nicholls; Charles F. Johnson; Wilbur I. Duvall
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This report presents the results of the Bureau of Mines 10-year program to study the problem of air blast and ground vibrations generated by blasting. The program included an extensive field study of ground vibrations; a consideration of air blast effects; an evaluation of instrumentation to measure vibrations; establishment of damage criteria for residential structures; determination of blasting parameters which grossly affected vibrations; empirical safe blasting limits; and the problem of human response. While values of 2.0 in/sec particle velocity and 0.5 psi air blast overpressure are recommended as safe blasting limits not to be exceeded to preclude damage to residential structures, lower limits are suggested to minimize complaints. Millisecond-delay blasting is shown to reduce vibration levels as compared to instantaneous blasting, and electric cap delay blasts offer a slight reduction in vibration levels as compared to Primacord delay blasts. Vibration levels of different blasts may be compared at common scaled distances, where scaled distance is the distance divided by the square root of the maximum charge weight per delay. Geology, rock type, and direction affect vibration level within limits. Empirically, a safe blasting limit based on a scaled distance of 50 ft/lb(1/2) may be used without instrumentation. However, a knowledge of the particle velocity propagation characteristics of a blasting site determined from instrumented blasts at that site are recommended to insure that the safe blasting limit of 2.0 in/sec is not exceeded.

Method for Assessing Benefits of Airborne Noise Isolation Requirements in Residential and Educational Buildings
Fred F. Rudder, Jr.
July 1982
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This report presents a method for estimating benefits accruing from implementation of acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The method can be applied to a wide range of environmental noise conditions and noise isolation requirements for building envelopes. Benefits are estimated based upon the distribution of population with outdoor noise level and the noise isolation provided by the building envelope. A method is described for estimating noise isolation provided performance of existing construction based upon local conditions.

Method for Assessing Benefits of Airborne Noise Isolation Requirements in Residential and Educational Buildings
Fred F. Rudder Jr.
April 1983
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This report presents a method for estimating benefits accruing from implementing acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The method can be applied to a wide range of environmental noise conditions and noise isolation requirements for building envelopes. Benefits are estimated based upon the distribution of population with outdoor noise level and the noise isolation provided by the building envelope. A method is described for estimating noise isolation performance of existing construction based upon local conditions.

Better Homes and Gardens - "How to Cut Down Household Noise"
May 1978
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Aircraft Noise and the Market for Residential Housing: Empirical Results for Seven Selected Airports
Jon P. Nelson
September 1978
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The annoyance due to aircraft noise is capitalized into the value of residential property. Measurement of relationships between aircraft noise levels and property values provides a means by which to calculate the benefits of noise abatement. This study seeks to obtain a measure of the effect on property values of a decibel change in Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) levels, other factors remaining constant. The resulting damage cost is interpreted as the amount individuals would be willing to pay for noise abatement, given that the change in noise levels is small. Census block and census tract data are employed for small geographic areas (about two miles radius) near seven selected major U.S. airports. In each of seven cases, the results indicate that aircraft noise has a negative and statistically significant effect on residential property values. Translating the coefficients into percentages yields a noise depreciation index in the range -0.29 to -0.84 percent per decibel change in NEF level, with a simple average value of -0.55 percent. However, the coefficient estimates for six airports are stable around a weighted-mean value of -0.50 percent. This result is consistent with the average of values obtained in earlier statistical studies of the same relationship.

National Ambient Noise Survey
Mark M. Hansen
January 1982
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The objectives, methodology, and results of a national survey of outdoor noise environments in urban residential areas are discussed. The objectives were to determine overall noise levels, source contributions, and patterns of spatial and temporal variation in these areas, along with the effect of three locational factors on these parameters. The survey employed a randomized site selection procedure, a startified sampling strategy, and a multifaceted measurement protocol to meet these objectives. Results of the survey include a simple model which predicts Ldn in these areas, projections of nationwide noise impact, average source contributions and temporal noise level histories and average variations in noise level at different locations around residential units.

Measurements of the Impulsiveness and Annoyance of Compression - Release Engine Brake Noise
Sanford Fidell; Richard Horonjeff
December 1981
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The research described in this report was undertaken to evaluate the potential contribution to the overall annoyance of heavy truck noise of the impulsive character of exhaust noise created by engine compression-release braking devices. Although growing numbers of trucks are likely to be equipped with these safety devices in the future, current methods for assessing health and welfare effects of traffic noise on residential populations make no specific provision for annoyance associated with impulsive noise sources.

Method for Assessing Costs of Noise Control Requirements in Multifamily Residential and Educational Buildings
Stephen F. Weber; Fred F. Rudder Jr.; Michael J. Boehm
December 1981
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This report presents a methodology developed to measure the costs impacts of acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The methdology can be applied to a wide range of noie control requirements. The cost items addressed by this methodology are expected changes in construction costs, the cost of acoustical testing to certify levels of performance, code administration costs, and energy savings due to modifications of the building envelope. The building components considered, which are those most commonly affected by noise control requirements, are dorrs, windows, interior walls, exterior walls, and floor/ceiling assemblies. The basic cost assessment method consists of linear cost estimation equations for most component designs commonly use in educational and multifamily residential buildings. Each equation relates the acoustical performance of the design to its construction cost so that construction costs associated with alternate levels of acoustical performance can be compared. The methodology also includes a cost minimization model useful for selecting the least-cost design for aparticular level of acoustical performance.

Cost Effectiveness of Alternative Noise Reduction Methods for Construction of Family Housing
P.D. Schomer; F.M. Kessler; R.C. Channud; B.L. Homans; J.C. McBryan
July 1976
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The objective of this work was to obtain the cost/benefit relationships associated with new, quieter construction equipment and/or construction process modification. A workable cost/benefit model was developed for this purpose, but a significantly larger data base must be acquired to apply this model. The initial work effort concentrated on one type of construction - multifamily housing construction. Significant findings included: (1) Construction sitr boundary noise can be significantly reduced by a number of currently available techniques; (2) the use of two quiter machines of a lower capacity in lieu of one standard machine not only costs more but is of questionable noise control value; since the total noise exposure is sometimes greater from two machines than than from one large machine; (3) cost/benefit relationships for estimating purposes can be provided only after a significantly larger data base is obtained.

Energy Conservation and Noise Control in Residences
D.N. Keast
August 1978
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There are several ways for reducing the intrusion of noise into a dwelling that can also reduce the energy required to heat or cool the building, Similarly, efforts to reduce energy consumption can provide a concomitant noise-reduction benefit. This memorandum discusses and provides quantitative estimates of these synergistic benefits. In addition, suggestions are provided for resolving apparent conflicts between the independent objectives of building energy conservation and building noise control.

Method for Assessing Benefits of Airborne Noise Isolation Requirements in Residential and Educational Buildings
Fred F. Rudder Jr.
April 1973
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Guidelines for Preparing Environmental Impact Statements on Noise
Henning E. von Gierke
June 1977
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Guidelines are proposed for the uniform description and assessment of the various noise environments potentially requiring an Environmental Impact Statement for Noise. In addition to general, audible noise environments, the report covers separately high-energy impulse noise, special noises such as ultrasound and infrasound, and the environmental impact of structure-borne vibration. Whenever feasible and practical, a single-number noise impact characterization is recommended, based on the new concept of level-weighted population; i.e., the summation over the total population of the product of each residential person times a weighting factor that varies with yearly day night average sound level outside the residence of that person. A sound-level weighting function for general impact and environmental degradation analysis is proposed, based on the average annoyance response observed in community response studies; this weighting function is supplemented by an additional weighting function at higher noise environments to quantify the potential of noise-induced hearing loss and general health effects. The evaluation of the environmental impact of vibration is derived from existing or proposed ISO standards. The report explains and justifies the procedures selected and gives examples of their application.

Impact Noise Control In Multifamily Dwellings
January 1963
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Report to Congress - Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State
October 1980
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This report is submitted to Congress in response to Section 8 of the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-609) which resulted from Congressional concern that aircraft noise from some airports may impact communities located in another State. The question was whether the communities in the other State could effect change at the airport to provide relief for their citizens. The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency were directed to study jointly this issue and determined that Philadelphia International Airport satisfied the selection criteria in the Act. The Act further directed that the study be conducted in cooperation with the airport operator, appropriate Federal, State, and local officials, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization which, in this case, is the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). This led to formation of an Advisory Committee under the auspices of the DVRPC to assist the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration. This study illustrates that regional advisory bodies can work effectively on problems which cross political boundaries. The study included three semi-independent programs: (1) Noise Measurement, (2) Noise Modeling, and (3) Community Response. The objective of the measurement program was to obtain actual aircraft noise levels in selected residential areas around the Philadelphia International Airport. These data were used to verify the results of the Noise Modeling Program. The FAA's Integrated Noise Model (INM), a computerized noise simulation, was used to predict aircraft noise levels around the airport as a function of all of the pertinent parameters, i.e., types and numbers of aircraft operating at the airport (both current and forecast for 1990 and 2000), flight tracks, operating procedures, and time of day of aircraft operations. The Community Response Program made the public aware of the noise study through standard public information techniques, a toll-free telephone complaint service, conduct of a community opinion survey to determine how people feel about the airport and its environmental impact, and establishment of an Advisory Committee to assist in the selection of noise control options. The telephone complaint service registered 296 complaints during the 118 days in which it was operated. One thousand seven hundred and twenty-three interviews were conducted among residents within approximately 20 miles of Philadelphia International Airport, of whom 447, or 26.0 percent, lived in New Jersey and the remainder in Pennsylvania. Crime was identified most often as the most serious environmental problem, while noise (from all sources including aircraft) was fifth among the eight categories specified. The noise exposure conditions, and the relative effectiveness of alternative noise control actions, were investigated for the existing 1980 operations and for projected 1990 and 2000 operations. Alternative noise control actions were grouped into five categories: airport layout; airport and airspace use; aircraft operations; land use; and noise program management. Detailed results of these analyses are reported, in terms of the population impacted by several values of Average Day-Night Sound Level (Ldn), which includes a 10-decibel added penalty on nighttime aircraft operations. On this basis, the most effective noise control option for Philadelphia International Airport appears to be a reduction in nighttime operations, in combination with a preferential runway use program to keep the remaining nighttime flights away from populated areas. These actions would reduce aircraft noise impacts in the affected areas of both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Before any such use restrictions should be considered by the operator of Philadelphia International Airport, however, a more detailed syudy should be made to account for all economic factors which could be affected by those restrictions. Any aviation-related options should be complemented by a continuing citizen involvement program and a broad land-use planning program.

Behavioral and Physiological Correlates of Varying Noise Environments
Lawrence F. Sharp; John F. Swiney; Mickey R. Dansby; Stephen C. Hyatt; Dale E. Schimmel
June 1977
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Eighty male college juniors and seniors were dichotomized into either High or Low Anxiety groups. Each subject experienced a household noise profile under a quiet (50 dBA), intermittent (84 dBA) and continuous (84 dBA) noise condition, while performing either an easy or difficult pursuit tracking task. Heart rate, electromyographic potentials, and tracking error responses were evaluated. Results indicated significant (P<.01) main effects for task difficulty and noise condition and significant (P<.01) interaction effects for task difficulty, noise condition and anxiety level (as measured by the IPAT Self Analysis Form) of subjects. The significant noise effect occurred for the difficult task condition during the second tracking period (which includes transfer of training effects) indicating that factors such as task difficulty, direction of task transfer effects, duration of noise exposure as well as anxiety level of subjects appear to be important variables affecting human psychometer performance in noise environments below 85 dBA. These findings appear to be consistent with previous research which suggests that task difficulty is the variable determining the direction of stress (noise) effects on psychometer performances and the nature of the interaction between stress and anxiety level. The present findings are therefore seen as supporting the concepts of the response interference hypothesis and the inverted-U function between stress and performance.

Method for Assessing Costs of Noise Control Requirements in Multifamily Residential and Educational Buildings
Stephen F. Weber; Fred F. Rudder Jr.; Michael J. Boehm
December 1981
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This report presents a methodology developed to measure the cost impacts of acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The methodology can be applied to a wide range of noise control requirements. The cost items addressed by this methodology are expected changes in construction costs, the cost of acoustical testing to certify levels of performance, code administration costs, and energy savings due to modifications of the building envelope. The building components considered, which are those most commonly affected by noise control requirements, are doors, windows, interior walls, exterior walls, and floor/ceiling assemblies. The basic cost assessment method consists of linear cost estimation equations for most component designs commonly used in educational and multifamily residential buildings. Each equation relates the acoustical performance of the design to its construction cost so that construction costs associated with alternate levels of acoustical performance can be compared. The methodology also includes a cost minimization model useful for selecting the least-cost design for a particular level of acoustical performance.

The Transfer Function of Quarry Blast Noise and Vibration into Typical Residential Structures
George W. Kamperman; Mary A. Nicholson
February 1977
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An experimental program was conducted to determine the transfer function of quarry blast noise and vibration into typical structures. Four distinct noise and vibration signals are produced inside nearby dwellings. It was determined that due to resonances excited within the dwellings, the noise and vibration excitation was greater inside the dwellings than outside.

A Study of Soundproofing Requirements for Residences Adjacent to Commercial Airports
Ben H. Sharp; Vijay K. Kahii; Eric Stusnick
August 1981
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As part of an overall systems program being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to examine options for the reduction of aircraft noise impact, this study was conducted to estimate the costs of soundproofing dwellings within the Ldn 65 noise contours at major U.S. commercial airports. The goal of the study is to achieve an interior sound level of Ldn 45 dB. The nation was divided into eleven regions, each one incorporating areas of similar dwelling construction. In this way, it was possible to specify the noise reduction of dwellings on a regional basis, taking local features into account. To determine the distribution of dwelling types in each region, and to obtain detailed information on local dwelling characteristics that affect noise reduction, field surveys were conducted at one airport in each region. The airports surveyed were selected on the basis that the local dwelling characteristics were representative of the respective region. The information obtained was used to identify the types of modifications most suitable for soundproofing dwellings in each region. The selection of soundproofing modifications required for construction elements in each dwelling category in each region was madeusng a computerized cost optimization procedure to achieve the interior noise criteria at the least cost. The costs for adding a ventilation system, required to replace the natural ventilation that occurs through leaks in the dwelling structure, were then added to the costs for structural modifications to provide an overall cost for soundproofing.

The Effect of Noise Barriers on the Market Value of Adjacent Residential Properties
Fred L. Hall; J. Douglas Welland
August 1986
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This paper addresses the problem of how highway noise affects house prices, and how highway noise barriers alter that effect. The project began with a set of house price data available in the Property Office of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications. These data were augmented with housing characteristics and sales data obtained from the Toronto Real Estate Board. All of the data were from three residential areas of Toronto situated behind highway noise barriers. In a multiple linear regression, in which a variety of other housing characteristics are controlled for, the coefficient on noise level (in 1981 dollars) varies from -312 $/dB at one site, to -356 $/dB at a second site, to -1971 $/dB at a third site, all of which coefficients are statistically significant at the .05 level. The pooled sample estimate is -788 $/dB. The first two values are generally consistent with results of earlier studies, although perhaps a bit lower. Non-linear regressions on noise level, and functions which ignored noise until it was in the mid-60's, were also investigated. These results supported neither a quadratic function, nor any clear threshold effect. Close inspection of the data at the site with a -2971 $/dB value suggests that these data may not be representative of the relevant population, in that expensive houses in high noise environments are not properly represented in the sample. As a result, the extremely large estimated noise penalty is probably a statistical anomaly. Since the pooled sample noise penalty of -778 $/dB reflects in part the data from that site; it too may be non-representative of the population noise penalty. It is clear from these data that house sales in areas protected by noise barriers reflect the same kind of valuation of noise as do houses in unprotected noisy areas.

Procedures to Estimate Airport Residential Relocation Costs
Richard Chais; Joseph Felder
April 1981
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The cost of relocating private residences exposed to excessive aviation noise levels at the nation's airports is a major factor in determining the viability of a comprehensive airport relocation and soundproofing program. The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 is reviewed to determine applicability to a relocation program and to define airport-specific relocation cases and costs. Procedures are provided for: (1) developing a well-defined set of cases for which relocation costs may be estimated; (2) determining the costs in current dollars for each expense item in each relocation case; and (3) determining the frequency of occurrence for each case as applied to specific airports. Total costs for all cases for a hypothetical airport relocation effort are provided. Supporting data and equations used are presented.

Helicopter Noise Survey for Selected Cities in the Contiguous United States
Robert Main; Andrew Joshi; David Couts; Leslie Hilten
March 1985
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The FAA has conducted a series of noise surveys in the following urban areas: Chicago, IL; Long Beach, CA; New Orleans, LA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA. In each metropolitan area, noise measurements were made at three of four heliports or helipads. Land use surrounding the heliports ranged from residential to industrial. Noise levels for Lmax were recorded during each test at each heliport. Also recorded were ambient noise levels which were used as a basis for comparison of noise associated with helicopter operations versus urban background noise levels.

Preliminary Estimates of the Health and Welfare Benefits of State and Local Surface Transportation Noise Control Programs
Michael A. Staiano; Robert A. Samis
November 1979
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The actual reduction in traffic noise exposure level for a given control measure can be conceptually considered a function of: the potential level reduction of the control, its applicability, the extent of its enforcement, and the effectiveness of its enforcement. A survey of the available literature yielded a reasonable amount of information regarding the potential level reductions of control measures, a limited amount of information regarding the observed exposure level reductions of control measures, and virtually no information regarding the applicability of controls, the extent of enforcement, or the effectiveness of enforcement. EPA's National Roadway Traffic Noise Exposure Model (NRTNEM) was used as a means of estimating the benefits of various state and local surface transportation noise control measures for the year 1985. Somewhat coarse simulations of the various controls gave the following results: -Various low speed vehicle noise control measures, applied nationwide, roughly halved of the surface transportation noise impact. -Upper estimates of high speed vehicle noise control measures (snow tire regulations and roadway surface treatment) yielded roughly a 2/5 reduction in impact. -The exclusion of noisy vehicles from residential areas, applied to cities with greater than 50,000 people population, has a potential for the reduction of impact by about 1/4. -Motorcycle enforcement resulting in the partial to total elimination of modified motorcycles has the potential for reducing impact between 1/5 to 1/4. -Reducing local speed limits, in cities of greater than 50,000 people population, was estimated to yield a maximum impact reduction of 1/5. -More stringent speed limit enforcement for highways, on a nationwide basis was estimated to have a maximum benefit of about 1/5 impact reduction. Recommendations for future work include refining NRTNEM itself to more realistically describe vehicle behavior at intersections, refining the simulations themselves to yield more accurate estimates (e.g., considering snow tire controls only for "snow states" and their exclusion only for summer months), and the simulation of simultaneous multiple complementary controls. Finally, any estimates must be considered in the light of reasonable expectations for the applicability, effectiveness and the extent of enforcement of control measures. In the absence of a data base for these parameters, sensitivity tests should be conducted.

Airport Community Soundproofing and Relocation Study
Richard Chais; John Kirkland
July 1982
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For many airports, a residual population imported by aircraft noise will remain after benefits from all other noise control means have been realized. This report considers residential soundproofing and relocation programs as a means of achieving airport noise/land use compatibility. A detailed discussion of issues involved in such a program is given. To quantify the cost of such a program a methodology is developed and used to integrate parameters affecting noise exposure. A forecast is presented of changes in air carrier airport noise exposure that will occur during the balance of this century. The study also examines the noise exposure benefit of noise abatement flight operations, flight procedure, and restrictions on population encroachment. Soundproofing and relocation costs are developed for four airports.

Guidelines for Preparing Environmental Impact Statements of Noise
January 1977
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Guidelines are performed for the uniform description and assessment of the various noise environments potentially requiring an Environmental Impact Statement for Noise. In addition to general, audible noise environments, the report covers separately high-energy inpulse noise, special noises such as ultrasound and infrasound, and the environmental impact of structure-borne vibration. Whenever feasible3 and practical, a a single-number noise impact characterization is recommended, based on the new concept of level-weighted population: i.e., the summation over the total population of the product of each residential person times a weighting factor that varies with the yearly day-night average sound level outside the residence of that person. A sound-level weighting function for general impact and environmental degradation analysis is proposed, based in the average annoyance response observed in community response studies; this weighting function is supplemented by an additional weighting funcion at higher noise environments to quantify the potential of noise-induced hearing loss and general health effects. The evaluation of the environmental impact of vibration is derived from existing or proposed ISO standards. The report explains and justifies the procedures selected and gives examples of their application.

Noise - How Much is Too Much?
Henning E. von Gierke
May 1975
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Henning E. von Gierke contends that enough is known about the effects of noise on people to produce guidelines for maximum noise levels. Adopted by the Environmental Protection Ageny, these guidelines are designed to protect the public with an adequate margin of safety against hearing loss from occupational and environmental noise exposures and against interference with speech or other activities indoors or outdoors in residential areas.

A Guide to Airborne, Impact, and Structureborne Noise Control in Multifamily Dwellings
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Under the sponsorship of the Federal Housing Administration Technical Studies Program, the National Bureau of Standards has developed and prepared this Guide for the benefit of architects, designers, contractors, builders, and housing officials to assist them in meeting the growing public demand for control of the building noise problem, particularly in multifamily dwellings. Surveys have established that the most common complaint among apartment dwellers where noise is involved is its transmission from one apartment to another within the building. Typical noise sources are television, radio, stereo, occupant activity, plumbing fixtures, electro-mechanical equipment, and household appliances. To minimize the annoying disturbance caused by these sources, architects must have a general knowledge of the principles of noise transmission and be able to apply proper design techniques in order to provide effective controls. With these objectives in mind, this Guide incorporates a broad range of criteria appropriate for isolating airborne, impact, and structure-borne noise associated with residential construction. Sound classifications represented in the most common types of building construction are identified. Also included are summaries of a number of foreign codes now in existence. This Guide incorporates previous impact noise research preferred by Bolt Beranek and Newman and sponsored by FHA. The FHA Minimum Property Standards will reference this NBS Guide.

Tilted Parallel Barrier Program - Application and Verification
Van M. Lee; Robert A Michalove; Simon Slutsky
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There are increasing situations in the nation's urban and suburban highway system where noise barriers are considered to protect residences on both sides of a roadway. The scheme if two vertical parallel barrier walls constitutes the parallel barrier problem where in addition to the sound waves that reach the reciever by diffraction over the near barrier, additional sound waves caused by complex pavement-barrier-ground reflection and diffraction mechanisms can reach the reciever, thus degrading the effectiveness of the near barrier. This paper presents the results of a first application of the Tilted Parallel Barrier Program (TPBP) to a highway project and attempts to verify aspects of the model through comparisons with data existing inthe literature. The model provides excellent agreement for the classical problem of an impedance boundary. It also meets reasonable expectations for parallel vertical, tilted parallel, and parallel absorptive barrier performance where a frequency dependent optimum design can be selected.

Background Report on Outdoor-Indoor Noise Reduction Calculation Procedures Employing the Exterior Wall Noise Rating (EWNR) Method
Gary E. Mange; Steven R. Skale; Louis C. Sutherland
March 1978
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This background report on the procedure for evaluating outdoor-indoor noise reduction of structure in terms of the single number metric Exterior Wall Noise Rating (EWNR) first reviews the basis of previous single number ratings emphasizing the Sound Transmission Class (STC). It is shown that the latter was initially designed to try to account for the relative loudness of interior noises in typical residences as heard by adjoining neighbors on the other side of a common party wall. In a similar, but quite independent manner, the EWNR metric was developed so that the A-weighted indoor noise level, due to highway noise sources outdoors, could be roughly estimated directly fromt he value of EWNR and the A-weighted outdoor noise level. The basis for this is defined, first in terms of the basic theory for noise reduction from outdoors to indoors at one frequency. The result is then summed over all frequencies to give the overall effective noise reduction. The EWNR single number rating replaces this complex summation and, as shown by recently conducted field tests, provides a valid method with an accuracy of about +/- 3 dB for predicting levels inside buildings due to outdoor transportation noise sources. This background report also briefly reviews the basis for the tables of EWNR values and tables of various EWNR adjustment factors used to evaluate the composite noise reduction of A-weighted noise levels for a wide range of practical residential structural assemblies which may include walls, windows, doors, roofs, and ceilings.

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.

The Urban Noise Survey
Sanford Fidell
August 1977
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Most of the existing social survey data base on community annoyance has been in character and has been concerned primarily with airport and highway related noise. An essential element in assessing the impact of noise in urban areas away from airports and highways is the evaluation of the attitudes of people concerning the noise in the residential environment. A social survey was conducted to sample opinion over the entire range of noise exposure and population density characteristics of non-rural America.The objective of the Urban Noise Survey was to develop a first order relationship between noise exposure and human response as a function of situational and attitudinal variables associated with the life styles of people in various urban environments. This survey differed from prior surveys in the general area of noise pollution in several important aspects: (1) it was specifically designed to study noise exposure not directly related to airport and highway sources; (2) the social survey was made in conjunction with simultaneous physical measurements of noise exposure at sites with widely different noise environments; (3) it was national rather than local in character and was addressed to a broad rather than narrow range of noise exposures and respondents' life styles. Some of the major conclusions are that: (a) exposure to noise typical of many urban (non-aircraft and non-highway) environments produces widespread annoyance, speech interference, and sleep disturbance; (b) a strong relationship was demonstrated between exposure level and the proportion of a community highly annoyed by noise; (c) the prevalence of speech interference is an especially good predictor of annoyance; (d) the number of complaints about noise is a poor predictor of the prevalence of annoyance; (e) demographic factors alone are relatively poor predictors of noise annoyance; (f) freedom from noise exposure is a component of a neighborhood satisfaction, and quiet is highly valued; (g) noises associated with automotive sources are the most pervasive sources of annoying noise in urban areas; (h) annoyance associated with intrusive noise sources may be related to measurable noise exposure from such sources, even when their magnitudes are not as great as the level of overall exposure in a community; (i) there is some evidence that human response to noise exposure at Ldn values in excess of 70 dB is more acute than at lower levels.

Airport Noise: Land-Use Compatibility by the Year 2000
Robert J. Koenig; John Tyler
August 1982
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This report reviews the progress which has been made in airport noise control and presents a forecast of changes in aviation noise exposure that will occur during the balance of this century. Results are given of an analysis which examines the benefits of noise abatement flight operations, flight procedures and of restrictions on population encroachment, on residential noise exposure. Cost of residential soundproofing and relocation, based upon in-depth studies, are presented for four air carrier airports which represent four airport categories. While the main focus of the report is on noise exposure above Ldn 65 at air carrier airports, noise exposure around general aviation and joint-use civil/military airports is also discussed.

Techniques for Controlling Noise from Residential Heat Pumps
Dennis G. Ossenkop
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At the request of the Washington State Department of Ecology Noise Section, the Environmental Protection Agency Region X Noise Program initiated a study to determine methods of reducing the noise impact of residential heat pumps. Two operating four-ton residential heat pumps were located by Mr. Fred Hallum of the General Electric Corporation, Seattle Central Air Conditioning Division office. Permission to construct and measure the acoustic effectiveness of a free standing heat pump enclosure was secured from Mr. William Sullivan of Seattle, Washington. The design and installation of the enclosure was accomplished through the cooperation of Earth Metrics, Inc., Palo Alto, California (under contract to EPA) and EPA Region X Noise Program personnel. Acoustic materials for the free standing enclosure were acquired through Mr. Harvey Britton of E.J. Bartells Company, Renton, Washington. The acoustic effectiveness of a second enclosure was measured at the residence of Mr. Robert Thornton of Gig Harbor, Washington.