Quiet Communities Act of 1997 (Introduced in the Senate)

S 951 IS

To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself and Mr. SARBANES) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

• This Act may be cited as the `Quiet Communities Act of 1997'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

• Congress finds that--

• (1)(A) for too many citizens of the United States, noise from aircraft, vehicular traffic, and a variety of other sources is a constant source of torment; and

• (B) nearly 20,000,000 citizens of the United States are exposed to noise levels that can lead to psychological and physiological damage, and another 40,000,000 people are exposed to noise levels that cause sleep or work disruption;

• (2)(A) chronic exposure to noise has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular problems, strokes, and nervous disorders; and

• (B) excessive noise causes sleep deprivation and task interruptions, which pose untold costs on society in diminished worker productivity;

• (3)(A) to carry out the Clean Air Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.), and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-609; 92 Stat. 3079), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency established an Office of Noise Abatement and Control;

• (B) the responsibilities of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control included promulgating noise emission standards, requiring product labeling, facilitating the development of low emission products, coordinating Federal noise reduction programs, assisting State and local abatement efforts, and promoting noise education and research; and

• (C) funding for the Office of Noise Abatement and Control was terminated in 1982 and no funds have been provided since;

• (4) because the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency remains responsible for enforcing regulations issued under the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.) even though funding for the Office of Noise Abatement and Control has been terminated, and because that Act prohibits State and local governments from regulating noise sources in many situations, noise abatement programs across the United States lie dormant;

• (5) as the population grows and air and vehicle traffic continues to increase, noise pollution is likely to become an even greater problem in the future; and

• (6) the health and welfare of the citizens of the United States demands that the Environmental Protection Agency once again assume a role in combating noise pollution.

SEC. 3. REESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF NOISE ABATEMENT AND CONTROL.

• (a) REESTABLISHMENT-

• (1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall reestablish an Office of Noise Abatement and Control (referred to in this Act as the `Office').

• (2) RESPONSIBILITIES- The Office shall be responsible for--

• (A) coordinating Federal noise abatement activities;

• (B) updating or developing noise standards;

• (C) providing technical assistance to local communities; and

• (D) promoting research and education on the impacts of noise pollution.

• (3) EMPHASIZED APPROACHES- The Office shall emphasize noise abatement approaches that rely on State and local activity, market incentives, and coordination with other public and private agencies.

• (b) STUDY-

• (1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall submit a study on airport noise to Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration.

• (2) AREAS OF STUDY- The study shall--

• (A) examine the Federal Aviation Administration's selection of noise measurement methodologies;

• (B) the threshold of noise at which health impacts are felt; and

• (C) the effectiveness of noise abatement programs at airports around the United States.

• (3) RECOMMENDATIONS- The study shall include specific recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration on new measures that should be implemented to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding communities.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

• There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--

• (1) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000; and

• (2) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002.
  
  

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