EPA Document Collection

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 #

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Most useful EPA documents

Title Index

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

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

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

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

Railroad Noise Analysis
R. Brown
November 1975
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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.

Railroad Noise Emission Standard
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Railroad Noise Exposure Model (RYNEM) - Volume 2: RYNEM User Manual
January 1982
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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.

Railroad Noise Impact Study
Desheng Quian
August 1987
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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.

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

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

Railyard Noise Exposure Model - Source Submodel (RYNEM-S) - Volume 3: RYNEM-S Programmer Manual
January 1982
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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 (RYNEM) - Volume 1: Description of RYNEM Model
January 1982
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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.

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

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. -

A Real-World Assessment of Noise Exposure
Thomas R. Schori; Edward A. McGatha
November 1977
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The noise exposure of 50 individuals was continuously monitored for 7 consecutive days, by means of personal noise dosimeters. Over the 7 days of the test, average Leq(24)'s (or what could be termed Leq(week)'s) among these individuals ranged from a low of 66 dB to a high of 85 dB, with a median of 74.7 dB. Over 80 percent of the individuals had average Leq(24)'s greater than the minimum level of 70 dB identified by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health and welfare with an adequate margin of safety (EPA 1974). Yet, with one exception, all of these indiviuals had average Leq(24)'s that were less than the minimum that would be exhibited by a worker who, during the working week, was exposed to the maximum level permissible under OSHA's current noise exposure regulation. Surprisingly enough, the highest average Leq(24) was not exhibited by a worker, but was exhibited by a 13 year old school boy.

Reauthorization of the Noise Control Act of 1972 - Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation, and Tourism of the Committee on Energy and Commerce - House of Representatives
February 1981
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Recent Literature on the Non-Auditory Effects of Noise: The Primary Emphasis on the Cardiovascular System
Patricia A. Dufour
October 1977
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This compilation is the result of a literature search for recent articles (primarily 1975-1977) on the non-auditory physiological effects of noise. The main area of interest in this project was the effects of noise on the cardiovascular system. A list of the investigators in the field of noise effects who provided additional information for this project and analyzed will be used in future work by the Environmental Protection Agency on the non-auditory effects of noise. Informative abstracts have been completed for the 21 most relevant studies concerning the cardiovascular effects of noise. In addition to the abstract, a form summarizing the experimental design and results, including evaluations and comments, has been provided for each abstract. The form was designed to provide an easy means for comparing and analyzing the studies. The abstracts, forms, and accompanying articles are arranged alphabetically by author in sections 1-21 of this volume. A summary form only was completed for each of 13 additional articles that cover areas other than the cardiovascular effects of noise. These studies deal with other significant non-auditory effects, especially on the endocrine system, including catecholamine excretion and plasma cortisol levels. The forms and copies of the original articles are included in sections 22-34. Both time and money limitations prevented such processing of the other 78 articles in the bibliography. Copies of the majority of these articles have been acquired by the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the copies of the original articles accompanying the abstracts and summary forms are of poor quality, although they are legible. They were the best copies available at the time of printing.

In accordance with a recommendation by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration is considering an amendment to Section 91.85 of the Federal Aviation regulations which would provide noise relief to communities in the vicinity of airports by prescribing reduced flap setting procedures for civil turbojet powered airplanes. This proposal is one of three rules recommended by the EPA for the control of noise during the approach and landing of turbojet engine-powered airplanes.

In accordance with a recommendation by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration is considering an amendment to Section 91.87 of the Federal Aviation regulations which would provide noise relief to communities in the vicinity of airports by prescribing a two-segment Instrument Landing System (ILS) appraoch for civil turbojet engine-powered airplanes. This proposed rule is one of three rules recommended by the EPA for the control of noise during the approach and landing of turbojet engine-powered airplanes.

Reference Material for the Truck Manufacturing Industry Outlook
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Regulation of Noise in Urban Areas
William S. Gately; Edwin E. Frye
August 1971
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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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Related News Articles
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Relation Between Daily Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss Based on the Evaluation of 6,835 Industrial Noise Exposure Cases
W.L. Baughn
June 1973
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The present study is designed to display the percent of a population exhibiting greater certain specified audiometric hearing levels as a function of specified exposure levels and duration of exposures to those levels. Audiometric data from 6,835 employees of an industrial plant were taken during the period from 1960 through 1965. The employees were selected only on the criterion that their noise exposures were reasonably well known. Hearing levels for each of three exposure conditions (78, 86 and 92 dBA) were obtained for the speech (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) and the 4 kHz audiometric frequencies. The data are smoothed and hearing risk tables are presented.

The Relationship Between Annoyance and Detectability of Low Level Sounds
Sanford Fidell; Sherri Teffeteller
September 1978
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The relationship between the predicted detectability and judged annoyance of 25 low level sounds heard in three noise backgrounds was investigated by an adaptive paired comparison procedure under free field listening conditions. The predicted detectability of the set of sounds accounted for almost 90% of the variance in the annoyance judgments in a conventional (falling spectrum) background noise environment. This strong relationship between predicted detectability and annoyance appears capable of supporting objective scales of the intrusiveness of low level sounds heard under everyday circumstances.

Relevant Communications Between EPA, Ford, and GM
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Report on Aircraft-Airport Noise
August 1973
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Report on Cost Effective Purchasing and the Buy Quiet Program
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Report on Operations Analysis Including Monitoring, Enforcement, Safety and Costs
July 1973
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This report analyzes a number of noise abatement flight and operational procedures which are presently in use in one form or another in scattered parts of the air transportation system. For the most part the use of these procedures is not required by the FAA. The discussion in this report concentrates on the noise reduction potential, the costs, and other advantages and disadvantages of these noise abatement procedures. The attractiveness of procedural methods of noise reduction is that they can be accomplished in a short time (0 to 5 years) and at a low costs (often no cost). This is in contrast to aircraft or engine modifications or land use conversion which can provide more substantial long term benefits (3 to 15 years) but at greater cost.

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.

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.

Report to Congress - Study - The Feasibility, Practicability and Cost of the Soundproofing of Schools, Hospitals, and Public Health Facilities Located Near Airports
July 1977
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Report to the Chairman Subcommittee on Aviation Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate - Airport Capacity - Civilian Use of Military Airfields Has Added Little to System Capacity
April 1991
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Report to the Environmental Protection Agency On: The Workshop for the Development of New Procedures for U.S. Participation in International Standardization in Acoustics, Held 22-25 October 1980 at Airlie House, Virginia
June 1981
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A workshop for the analysis and potential revision of procedures for most effective U.S. participation in international standardization in acoustics was hel at Airlie House, Virginia, from 22-25 October 1980. Thirty-four (34) attendees selected on the basis of their particular expertise in various areas of developing standards or regulations in acoustics participated in the workshop (from both the voluntary and regulatory sector). (The list of attendee is attached (ATTACHMENT A). The workshop was first proposed by the Acoustical Standards Management Board (ASMB) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and organized by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) under contract to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Report to the President and Congress on Noise
February 1972
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Report to the President and Congrsss on Noise
December 1971
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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....

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.