Noise Control Act of 1972
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The Noise Control Act of 1972 (NCA) authorized federal action to address sources of noise, including motor vehicles, machinery, appliances, and other commercial products. The act authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue noise emission regulations for the above sources. These regulations were issued based on the degree of noise reduction achievable under the best available technology. The manufacturers of newly regulated products were required to follow EPA regulations for applicable commercial products. In 1981, Congress voted to end funding for the EPA's Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC), which was primarily responsible for the act's implementation. During this time, regulation of noise shifted back to state and local governments. Meanwhile, the federal noise emission standards issued for various sources prior to the office's defunding remained in effect. [1][2]
Background
See bill: Noise Control Act of 1972
Congress passed the Noise Control Act in 1972. At the time, Democrats held a majority in both houses. Republican President Richard Nixon's administration submitted the act as part of a series of environmental policy proposals. He signed the act into law on October 27, 1972. In a statement announcing his decision to sign NCA and other bills, Nixon said:[3][4]
| " | While a number of municipal governments have moved to control the rising levels of noise in our country--particularly in major urban centers--many of the most significant sources of noise move in interstate commerce and can be effectively regulated only at the Federal level. The new act will enable the Environmental Protection Agency to set limits on the amount of noise permitted both from trucks, buses, and railroad trains operating in interstate commerce and from a variety of newly manufactured products such as jackhammers and compressors, automobiles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, motors and engines.[5] | ” |
| —President Richard Nixon[4] | ||
EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus said of the law, "We now have the authority to come to grips with an environmental problem that affects millions of people. The previous lack of this power represented a serious gap in our environmental authorities."[6]
Under the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was authorized to coordinate federal programs on noise emission and to issue regulations requiring any product or class of products to follow federal standards.[6]
Components
Policy statement
Congress issued this statement of policy as part of the Noise Control Act:[7]
| " | The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to promote an environment for all Americans free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare. To that end, it is the purpose of this Act to establish a means for effective coordination of Federal research and activities in noise control, to authorize the establishment of Federal noise emission standards for products distributed in commerce, and to provide information to the public respecting the noise emission and noise reduction characteristics of such products.[5] | ” |
| —Noise Control Act of 1972 | ||
Noise levels
In 1974, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published noise levels that the agency had argued were requisite to protect public health under the act. Additionally, the levels were issued to provide guidelines for state and local governments in setting standards. The EPA set a 24-hour exposure level of 70 decibels as the level that would prevent measurable hearing loss in individuals over a lifetime. Further, the EPA set a level of 55 decibels outdoors and 45 decibels indoors as the levels at which individuals would not experience annoyance or activity interference.[8]
Noise label program
In 1979, the EPA issued a regulation requiring manufacturers to attach labels to products based on the products' level of noise. The labels were required to show the number of decibels of noise emitted by the product; additionally, the labels were required to provide the number of decibels emitted by the same product from other manufacturers. Further, each product was required to have a Noise Reduction Rating. The higher the rating, the more effective the product was at reducing noise, according to the EPA.[9]
Interstate motor carriers
The act authorized the EPA to develop noise emission standards for motor carriers involved in interstate commerce; the act also authorized the Federal Highway Administration to enforce the standards. The noise standards applied to all commercial vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds; the standards ranged from 81 decibels to 93 decibels for highway travel and 83 decibels to 91 decibels for stationary operation. Sirens and horns (when used as warning devices) were exempted from the requirements.[7][10]
Interstate railroads
The act authorized directed EPA to develop noise emission standards for trains and railway stations involved in interstate commerce; the act authorized the Federal Railroad Administration to enforce the standards. For locomotives built prior to 1980, the EPA stated that noise could not exceed 73 decibels in stationary operation and 96 decibels at cruising speed. For locomotives built after 1979, noise was limited to 70 decibels in stationary operation and 90 decibels at cruising speed. For railway cars, noise was limited to 88 decibels for cars traveling 45 miles per hour or less and 93 decibels for cars traveling at greater speeds.[7][10]
Other regulated sources
The act authorized EPA to develop noise emission standards for "transportation, construction and electrical equipment, and motors or engines."[7][10]
Role of state and local governments
Before 1981, the Office of Noise Abatement and Control, a division of the EPA, "coordinated all federal noise control efforts." In 1982, Congress voted not to fund the office, and the federal government shifted the bulk of regulatory responsibility to state and local governments.[2][10]
See also
External links
- Noise Control Act of 1972
- Congressional Research Service, "Noise Abatement and Control: An Overview of Federal Standards and Regulations," updated January 13, 2003
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Summary of the Noise Control Act," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA History: Noise and the Noise Control Act," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ United States House of Representatives - History, Art and Archives, "Congress Profiles - 92nd Congress (1971-1973)," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The American Presidency Project, "Richard Nixon - Statement About Decision To Sign 37 Bills," October 28, 1972
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA to Launch Noise Control Program," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Noise Control Act of 1972," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA identifies noise levels affecting health and welfare," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA establishes new noise label program," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Congressional Research Service, "Noise Abatement and Control: An Overview of Federal Standards and Regulations," updated January 13, 2003
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