[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4308 Introduced in House (IH)]







                                    


104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4308

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 1996

    Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Mr. Skaggs, Mr. Frost, Mr. Yates, Mrs. 
 Morella, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Manton, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. 
   Pallone) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
      Committee on 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.

    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 1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that:
            (1) For too many Americans, noise from aircraft, vehicular 
        traffic, and a variety of other sources is a constant source of 
        torment. In fact, nearly 20,000,000 Americans 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) Chronic exposure to noise has been linked to increased 
        risk of cardiovascular problems, strokes, and nervous 
        disorders. Excessive noise also causes sleep deprivation and 
        task interruptions, both of which pose untold costs on society 
        in diminished worker productivity.
            (3) 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.
            (4) 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.
            (5) 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. This office shall be 
responsible for coordinating Federal noise abatement activities, 
updating or developing new noise standards, providing technical 
assistance to local communities, and promoting research and education 
on the impacts of noise pollution. In meeting these responsibilities, 
the Environmental Protection Agency shall emphasize abatement 
approaches that rely on local and State activity, market incentives, 
and coordination with other public and private agencies.
    (b) Study.--Within the funds made available for the Office of Noise 
Abatement and Control, the Administrator shall conduct a study of 
airport noise and its physiological effects on surrounding communities 
in major metropolitan areas. Such study shall include recommendations 
to the Federal Aviation Administration on new measures that can be 
implemented to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on metropolitan 
areas and surrounding communities.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 1997, 1998, and 1999, and $8,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2000 and 2001.
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