[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2539 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2539
To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 18, 2017
Ms. Meng (for herself, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Quigley, Mr.
Suozzi, Ms. Norton, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Speier, Mr. Capuano, Miss Rice
of New York, Mr. Smith of Washington, and Ms. Eshoo) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
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 2017''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that:
(1) Approximately 28,000,000 Americans are afflicted with
some hearing loss and it has been estimated that 10,000,000 of
these impairments are at least partially attributable to damage
from exposure to noise.
(2) For millions of Americans, noise from aircraft,
vehicular traffic, and a variety of other sources is a constant
source of torment. Millions of Americans are exposed to noise
levels that can lead to sleep loss, psychological and
physiological damage, and work disruption.
(3) Chronic exposure to noise has been linked to increased
risk of cardiovascular disorders, learning deficits in
children, stress, and diminished quality of life.
(4) Excessive noise leading to sleep deprivation and task
interruptions can result in untold costs on society in
diminished worker productivity.
(5) Pursuant to authorities granted under the Clean Air Act
of 1970, the Noise Control Act of 1972, and the Quiet
Communities Act of 1978, the Environmental Protection Agency
established an Office of Noise Abatement and Control. Its
responsibilities 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. However,
funding for the Office of Noise Abatement and Control was
terminated in 1982 and no funds have been provided since.
(6) Because the Environmental Protection Agency remains
legally responsible for enforcing regulations issued under the
Noise Control Act of 1972 even though funding for these
activities were terminated, and because the Noise Control Act
of 1972 prohibits State and local governments from regulating
noise sources in many situations, noise abatement programs
across the country lie dormant.
(7) As population growth and air and vehicular traffic
continue to increase, noise pollution is likely to become an
even greater problem in the future. The health and welfare of
our citizens demands that the Environmental Protection Agency,
the lead Federal agency for the protection of public health and
welfare, once again assume a role in combating noise pollution.
SEC. 3. REESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF NOISE ABATEMENT AND CONTROL.
(a) Reestablishment.--The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency shall reestablish within the Environmental Protection
Agency an Office of Noise Abatement and Control.
(b) Duties.--The responsibilities of the Office include the
following:
(1) To promote the development of effective State and local
noise control programs by providing States with technical
assistance and grants to develop the programs, including the
purchase of equipment for local communities.
(2) To carry out a national noise control research program
to assess the impacts of noise from varied noise sources on
mental and physical health.
(3) To carry out a national noise environmental assessment
program to identify trends in noise exposure and response,
ambient levels, and compliance data and to determine the
effectiveness of noise abatement actions, including actions for
areas around major transportation facilities (such as highways,
railroad facilities, and airports).
(4) To develop and disseminate information and educational
materials to the public on the mental and physical effects of
noise and the most effective means for noise control through
the use of materials for school curricula, volunteer
organizations, radio and television programs, publications, and
other means.
(5) To develop educational and training materials and
programs, including national and regional workshops, to support
State and local noise abatement and control programs.
(6) To establish regional technical assistance centers
which use the capabilities of university and private
organizations to assist State and local noise control programs.
(7) To undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of the
Noise Control Act of 1972.
(c) Preferred Approaches.--In carrying out its duties under this
section, the Office shall emphasize noise abatement approaches that
rely on local and State activities, market incentives, and coordination
with other public and private agencies.
(d) Study.--
(1) In general.--Using funds made available to the Office,
the Administrator shall carry out a study of airport noise. The
Administrator shall carry out the study by entering into
contracts or other agreements with independent scientists with
expertise in noise measurements, noise effects, and noise
abatement techniques to conduct the study.
(2) Contents.--The study shall examine the selection of
noise measurement methodologies by the Federal Aviation
Administration, the threshold of noise at which health impacts
are felt, and the effectiveness of noise abatement programs at
airports around the Nation.
(3) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to
Congress a report on the results of the study, together with
specific recommendations on new measures that can be
implemented to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on
surrounding communities.
SEC. 4. GRANTS UNDER QUIET COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.
Section 14(c)(1) of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C.
4913(c)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) establishing and implementing training
programs on use of noise abatement equipment; and
``(F) implementing noise abatement plans;''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years
2018 through 2022 $21,000,000 for activities of the Office of Noise
Abatement and Control reestablished under section 3.
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