PUBLICATION: Aviation Week and Space Technology
DATE: January 1, 2000
SECTION: World News & Analysis; Vol. 152, No. 1; Pg. 30
BYLINE: Paul Mann
DATELINE: Washington D.C.
Aviation Week and Space Technology reports that the United States may file an official complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the European Union's proposed hushkit ban, although a compromise may be reached before that. The U.S. says that when the ICAO eventually tries to work on Stage 4 standards, European companies won't want its equipment devalued any more than the U.S. does now.
The article reports that the United States has tentative plans to file an official Article 84 complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the European Union's proposed hushkit ban. The EU considers the ban on hushkits, which quiet jet engines, to be a necessary noise-reduction measure; U.S. officials call it "economic discrimination masquerading as noise abatement."
The article notes that the official complaint could result in Europe's loss of voting rights within the ICAO, but U.S. officials hope a compromise will be reached before that action is necessary. The English High Court has already called the EU's proposed ban "wholly defective."
The article notes that all hushkit companies are based in the U.S. The EU has already delayed the implementation of the ban, but the U.S. says that the airline industry has already lost $2-billion due to fleet-value depreciation in anticipation of the ban and lack of confidence in the ICAO's legislative procedures which were ignored by the EU.
The article goes on to say that the EU has already said it will reconsider the ban if the U.S. will commit in writing to development of Stage 4 aircraft-noise standards. The EU says the U.S. had delayed development of the standards for years, but the U.S. says the EU will be similarly bogged down in bureaucracy when it finally tries to satisfy the European airline industry which won't want its equipment depreciated any more than the U.S. does.
The article also says that the EU claims the ban to be fair under World Trade Organization rules. Both parties, however, hope the dispute will be resolved outside of the notoriously-slow WTO.
PUBLICATION: The Florida Times-Union
DATE: January 1, 2000
SECTION: Community News; Pg. 3
BYLINE: Michael Anderson
DATELINE: Clay County, Florida
The Florida Times-Union reports that commissioners in Clay County, Florida are considering a revision of their noise ordinance to make it more objective.
The article reports that commissioners in Clay County, Florida are considering a revision of their noise ordinance to make it more objective. Currently, the law calls noise a nuisance "when it disturbs 'the peace and repose of citizens of ordinary sensibilities."
The article notes that the discussion began after years of debate over a man who works on unmuffled race cars in his driveway; some neighbors are bothered, some aren't. The new ordinance will take the best of other objective noise ordinances from surrounding counties.
The article goes on to say that one ordinance from nearby Orange Park says noise is in violation if it exceeds "65 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or 55 decibels from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday or anytime Sunday." Commercial district noise can reach 75 decibels at any time. Noise complaints at that location have dropped since the ordinance was implemented without many fines, but the town has the power to levy up to a $10,000 fine.
The article notes that Clay County's current ordinance requires an officer to hear a noise for a continuous five minutes before a violation is certain.
PUBLICATION: The Straits Times
DATE: January 1, 2000
SECTION: Forum; Pg. 71
BYLINE: Liew Choon Boon, Director Corporate Services, Ministry of Education
DATELINE: Singapore
The Straits Times prints a letter to the editor in which the writer notes that new schools in Singapore are being built with the intention of keeping classrooms in quiet sections of the building.
"I refer to the letter, "Good acoustics will help teachers", by Mr Yap Sau Hee (ST, Dec 18).
In the design of new schools, care is taken to ensure that classrooms are located in the quieter parts of school sites.
The classroom blocks are usually placed away from noise sources such as busy roads, the canteen and game courts. This helps to reduce background noise and thus provides a more conducive learning environment.
The Ministry of Education has also started a series of studies on school environmental matters in collaboration with PWD Consultants.
The studies cover noise levels as well as lighting and ventilation in the classrooms. Various improvements are being considered and they include improving the design and materials used within the rooms, reducing the use of noise -generating equipment, and using a good balance of reflective and absorptive panels to enhance the projection of a teacher's voice.
The ministry will continue to work at improving the classroom environment for our teachers and students.
We would like to thank Mr Yap for his concern and suggestion."
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Next week: January 2, 2000
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