[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 536 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 536

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 4, 1997

  Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Mr. Shays, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Skaggs, Mrs. 
  Kelly, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Frost, Mr. Yates, Mr. Sabo, Ms. Rivers, Ms. 
Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Rush, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. 
 Nadler, Mr. Vento, Mr. Manton, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. 
    Bonior, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Mr. Berman, and Mr. Serrano) 
 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 1997''.

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. Such study, which shall be completed no later than 18 
months after the enactment of this Act, shall examine the Federal 
Aviation Administration's selection of noise measurement methodologies, 
the threshold of noise at which health impacts are felt, and the 
effectiveness of noise abatement programs at airports around the 
nation. Such study shall include specific recommendations to the 
Federal Aviation Administration on new measures that can be implemented 
to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding communities.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000, and $8,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2001 and 2002.
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