Environmental Noise Abatement

[Title 32 CFR G]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Subtitle A - Department of Defense (Continued)]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (CONTINUED)]
[Subchapter K - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY]
[Part 650 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT (AR 200-1)]
[Subpart G - Environmental Noise Abatement]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]

32NATIONAL DEFENSE42002-07-012002-07-01falseEnvironmental Noise AbatementGSubpart GNATIONAL DEFENSEDepartment of Defense (Continued)DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (CONTINUED)ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT (AR 200-1)
Subpart G--Environmental Noise Abatement

General

Sec. 650.161 Purpose.

The provisions contained in this chapter implement the provisions of
the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574) and Federal Regulations
promulgated pursuant to this Act, including Executive Order 11752,
Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-106, and EPA procedures
for Reporting Proposed Pollution Abatement Projects For Federal
Facilities.

Sec. 650.162 Goal and objectives.

The Department of the Army (DA) goal is to control noise produced by
Army activities to protect the health and welfare of its members and the
public within, adjacent to, and surrounding Army installations. The
following objectives are necessary to achieve this goal:
(a) Assess the environmental impact of noise produced by Army
activities and mitigate harmful or objectionable effects to the maximum
extent practicable.
(b) Comply with applicable Federal, State, interstate and local
standards pertaining to noise, consistent with military requirements.
(c) Achieve noise abatement through the application of engineering
noise reduction procedures, administrative noise control measures,
modern land use planning and procurement of less noisy equipment.
(d) Incorporate noise control provisions, consistent with national
security requirements, into the development and procurement of weapons
systems and other military equipment for use in combat operations; and
in the design and siting of facilities.

Sec. 650.163 Explanation of terms.

(a) Administrative noise control measures. Policy decisions and
administrative actions taken to regulate the conduct of training,
operations and activities for the purpose of relocating, rescheduling,
or restricting activity to abate or control noise; e.g., decisions on
the time of day, site, and number of operations, firing schedules,
flight patterns, etc.
(b) Ambient noise. The all encompassing noise associated with a
given environment, usually composite of sounds from many sources.
(c) Decibel (dB). Unit of measure indicating the sound pressure
level of a measured sound. dBA indicates that

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the sound level is measured through the A-weighting network of a sound
level meter.
(d) Engineering noise reduction. Control of noise at the source,
path or receptor site through use of acoustical engineering techniques.
Among other techniques, this involves enclosures, absorbent materials,
and barriers.
(e) Environmental noise. The intensity, duration, and character of
sounds from all sources.
(f) Impulsive noise (also referred to as impulse or impact noise).
Noise with abrupt onset, high intensity, short duration--typically less
than one second. This type of noise can be produced by weapons fire,
explosions, punch presses, and drop hammers, and consists of a short
burst of acoustical energy of either a single impulse or a series of
impulses.
(g) Land use planning. That aspect of master planning wherein the
best possible use is made of available land areas by considering, among
other factors, mission and environmental protection requirements.
(h) Noise control management. The abatement of noise through use of
low-noise-emission products, engineering noise reduction, or
administrative noise control measures.
(i) Noise pollution control standards. Noise emission standards for
products adopted in accordance with provisions of the Noise Control Act
of 1972 or provisions of State, interstate, and local standards for
control and abatement of environmental noise.

Sec. 650.164 Policies.

The Department of the Army will--
(a) Comply with all DOD and applicable Federal, State and local
noise control standards promulgated pursuant to the Noise Control Act in
the planning, siting, design, construction and operation of Army
controlled facilities and installations. The aim is to promote an
environment for all people free from noise that jeopardizes their health
and welfare.
(b) Procure commercial equipment and products, or those adapted for
military use, that are in compliance with established Federal noise
standards and give priority to use of low-noise-emission products within
reasonable cost and mission limitations.
(c) Incorporate noise control provisions in the design and
procurement of vehicles, aircraft, weapons systems and other military-
unique equipment for use in combat operations to the extent that
essential operational capabilities are not significantly impaired.
(d) Include the impact of environmental noise in any assessment of
an Army action or program.
(e) Institute measures to reduce and/or control the generation of
noise from flying and flying-related activities and comply with DOD
Instruction 4165.57 on Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ).
(f) Periodically monitor Army installations and their environs to
insure that applicable Federal, State, interstate and local noise
standards are met.

Sec. 650.165 Responsibilities.

(a) Department of the Army Staff.
(1) The Chief of Engineers will--(i) Promulgate basic policies,
guidance and regulations for the control of environmental noise produced
by military equipment (aircraft, vehicles, etc.), and that resulting
from the conduct of various types of military training activities (DAEN-
ZCE).
(ii) Monitor the structural engineering aspects of the environmental
noise pollution control program to assure that facilities on Army real
property satisfies established noise control standards (DAEN-MC).
(iii) Provide guidelines and assistance for the selection of
architectural and engineering measures to be employed, to control noise
levels in conjunction with installation master planning or the siting of
new facilities (e.g., siting considerations, noise barriers or berms,
operational controls, and sound attenuation in new and existing
structures) (DAEN-MC).
(iv) Coordinate noise abatement criteria, standards, policies, and
corrective measures with The Surgeon General, and The Inspector General
and Auditor General, (Army Director of Safety).
(v) Incorporate noise attenuation measures in the design and
construction of new structures and provide

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technical assistance on noise attenuation techniques for existing
structures (DAEN-MC).
(2) The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans will--(i)
Monitor operations and activities to assure control of noise produced by
military equipment, aircraft, and vehicles, resulting from the conduct
of various types of military training activities.
(ii) Ensure compliance with appropriate noise standards during test
and evaluation of Army material and during operational testing.
(3) The Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and
Acquisition will--(i) Monitor compliance with applicable noise control
standards during the development and testing of new material.
(ii) Process and staff requests for exemptions (Sec. 650.175) for
military unique equipment where essential operational characteristics
are significantly impaired by adherence to applicable noise standards,
and where the equipment is deemed essential to mission accomplishment.
(4) The Surgeon General will--(i) Monitor health and welfare aspects
of environmental noise within the Department of the Army to assure that
the required degree of noise control is maintained.
(ii) Issue health and medical policy guidance obtained from liaison
with other Federal agencies assigned responsibility for environmental
noise control.
(iii) Coordinate in the development of noise abatement criteria,
standards and corrective measures with the Chief of Engineers and when
appropriate with Director of Safety, HQDA.
(b) Commanding General, US Army Health Services Command will--
(1) Accumulate, evaluate, and disseminate data on environmental
noise conditions that may adversely affect the health of men and
animals.
(2) Conduct environmental noise studies when requested, provide
acoustical technical assistance for preparation of Environmental Impact
Assessments (EIA) or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and make
recommendations on programs or projects to achieve noise pollution
control.
(3) Provide technical consultation to commanders on health aspects
of environmental noise control and assist in the development of
environmental noise abatement programs for facilities and activities.
(c) Commanding General, US Army Materiel Development and Readiness
Command and other materiel development and procurement agencies will--
(1) Procure equipment or materiel which complies with DA adopted
noise emission standards and retrofit existing vehicles as appropriate,
to reduce noise to acceptable levels.
(2) Initiate and forward requests for waiver of noise standards for
military equipment to DAEN-ZCE when it has been determined that
compliance with such standards would significantly degrade the required
military capability of the equipment.
(3) Pursue a research and development, test and evaluation program
for the abatement or control of noise from military equipment.
(d) Major Army commanders will--
(1) Comply with applicable Federal, State, interstate, and local
standards regarding environmental noise control and abatement.
(2) Establish a program for an initial survey and periodic review of
environmental noise control.
(3) Program and budget for those resources required for
environmental noise control.
(4) Report resource requirements for the conduct of the noise
pollution control program in accordance with subpart J of this part.
(e) Installation and activity commanders will--
(1) Comply with applicable Federal, State, interstate, and local
standards regarding environmental noise.
(2) Identify continuous or recurring sources of noise at an
installation or by an activity which exceed standards; are an annoyance
to others; are injurious to health; and develop remedial projects or
procedures to reduce such noise to acceptable levels.
(3) Monitor the conduct of training activities producing inherently
high noise levels for the purpose of minimizing its effect on nearby
military and civilian populations.

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(4) Maintain liaison with appropriate Federal, State, and local
noise pollution abatement authorities, for the purpose of noise control
measures insofar as installation and military operational requirements
permit in accordance with subpart A of this part.
(5) Program and budget for resources necessary to conduct an
effective noise control program.
(6) Maintain a log of citizen complaints of noise produced by Army
activities.

Sec. 650.166 Reports.

Sources of noise pollution will be identified and those requiring
remedial action will be reported as specified in subpart J of this part.
An example of an exhibit prepared on a typical environmental noise
control project is shown in figure 10-7.

Sec. 650.167 References.

See table 7-1, for related publications to be used in conjunction
with this subpart.

Standards and Procedures

Sec. 650.168 Standards.

(a) Undue exposure to noise may be detrimental to the health and
welfare of Department of the Army personnel and members of civilian
communities adjacent to military installations. Consequently it is
necessary to assess major sources of noise to ensure there are no
adverse impacts. Normally this is accomplished by making sound level
measurements and comparing them to established noise standards which
include:
(1) Occupational noise level standards--a noise exposure standard
established for the protection of hearing of workers by the Army Surgeon
General and/or under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
(2) Product noise source emission standards--maximum noise levels
that may be produced by specified items of equipment under the authority
of the Noise Control Act or State, interstate and local standards.
(3) Environmental noise standards-- property use and/or operational
noise levels that are permitted under those conditions specified in
Federal, State, interstate and local standards and regulations.
(b) Occupational noise level standards applicable to the Army are
contained in AR 40-5, AR 385-10, TB MED 251 and MIL-STD-1474(MI).
(c) Product noise emission standards are published in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR). Army materiel excluded from compliance with
such emission standards at the time of manufacture are aircraft,
vehicles, weapons systems and other products produced for combat use.
Commercially manufactured products or those adapted for general military
use will comply with the following Federal noise standards:
(1) Commercial Aircraft--14 CFR parts 21, 36 and 91.
(2) Motor Carrier Noise Emission Standards--40 CFR part 202 and 23
CFR part 772. (Section 18 of Noise Control Act only.)
(3) Motors and Engines--40 CFR part 206.
(4) Railroad Noise Emission Standards--40 CFR part 201.
(5) Construction Equipment--40 CFR part 204.
(6) Transportation Equipment--40 CFR part 205.
(d) MIL-STD-1474(MI), Noise Limits for Army Materiel, establishes
acoustical noise limits for Army materiel and prescribes the testing
requirements and measurement techniques for determining conformance to
the noise limits therein.
(e) Environmental noise will be assessed and controlled in
accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

Sec. 650.169 Noise measurement standards.

(a) Noise pollution control standards are applicable to both
existing and new Army facilities.
(b) Army facilities and activities will comply with applicable
Federal, State, interstate and local noise standards unless a waiver is
specifically obtained in accordance with Sec. 650.175. Where no
applicable noise regulations and standards exist, installation
commanders will minimize noise intrusions into areas surrounding the
installations to prevent them from being a source of complaint. An EPA
manual that provides general guidance in the absence

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of specific standards is listed in 15, table 7-1.
(c) Measurements in decibels (dBA) should be used for measuring
continuous sound levels from Army activities or facilities. For impulse
noise such as weapons firing and explosives, the EPA has recommended
dBC.
(d) Environmental noise levels should be identified using an
equivalent sound level description system known as Leq/Ldn. This new
methodology supplements and replaces earlier techniques such as
Composite Noise Ratings (CNR) and Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF). The
basic reference is EPA Document 550/9-74-004, ``Information on Levels of
Environmental Noise Requisite to Protect Public Health and Welfare with
an Adequate Margin of Safety,'' March 1974. It is available from the
U.S. Government Printing Office. Use will be made of this descriptor
system in discussing noise implications in all Environmental Impact
Assessments (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). Other
rating schemes may be used, but should be related to Leq/Ldn. Ldn is
recommended by EPA for blast impulse noise on an interim basis pending
further research and study.

Sec. 650.170 Assessment of noise.

The impact of environmental noise whose source is located on Army-
controlled property will be included in an EIA or an EIS of any Army
proposed action. Analyses of such significant sources of environmental
noise as airfields and firing ranges should be based on field
measurements by acoustical technicians.
(a) Technical assistance on land use management or real property
associated noise problems (e.g., blast noise, etc.) can be obtained from
U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), P.O. Box
4005, Champaign, IL 61820. A helpful reference on this matter is the
CERL document: ``User Manual for the Acquisition and Evaluation of
Operational Blast Noise Data,'' Technical Report E-42 CERL, June 1974
(NTIS), see table 7-1).
(b) Technical assistance to include field surveys and the
preparation of environmental noise pollution evaluations relating to
health and welfare considerations of all types of environmental noise
problems can be provided by the U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency.
Requests for assistance should be sent to Commander, U.S. Army Health
Services Command (HSC-PA), Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234. This assistance
includes--
(1) The evaluation of existing or potential noise problems which are
evidenced by complaints, litigation, or official inquiries;
(2) The assessment of those situations where existing or proposed
civilian-community actions may adversely impact noise-sensitive areas
located on Army installations;
(3) The assessment of those situations where a proposed civilian
community action may be adversely impacted from an ongoing Army
activity;
(4) The recommendation of measures to mitigate an existing or
potential adverse noise impact;
(5) The evaluation of Department of the Army activities to ensure
that they comply with applicable noise standards and regulations; and
(6) The conduct of environmental noise assessments as input to EIS's
excluding all projects involving land management and acquisition.
(c) Technical assistance, such as information and technical
documents, is also available from the EPA. Inquiries may be sent
directly to EPA Office of Noise Abatement & Control, Washington, DC
20460, or to the noise representative in the respective EPA Region (see
fig. 9-1 and table 9-3).

Sec. 650.171 Noise sources.

Common sources of environmental noise produced by military
activities that may require some form of noise control include--
(a) Aircraft operations and training.
(b) Vehicles (combat and noncombat) operations and training.
(c) Weapons firing, explosives and demolition operations and
training (blast noise, Sec. 650.169(d)).
(d) Fixed noise sources (power plants and generators, manufacturing
plants, industrial facilities, carpenter shops, dynamometer buildings
etc.)
(e) Electrical and electronic equipment.

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(f) Construction equipment operations and training.
(g) Recreational activities (e.g., snowmobiles, trailbikes, etc.)
(h) All other noise sources that exceed 55 dBA measured at a
distance of 50 feet from the source.

Sec. 650.172 Noise control.

(a) Control of new and existing sources of environmental noise can
normally be achieved by applying singly or in combination noise
reduction at the source, altering the path of noise, and noise reduction
at the receptor site. Further, low-noise-emission products and equipment
will be acquired wherever possible.
(b) Engineering noise controls, establishment of noise buffer zones,
site design and building construction for noise control, and similar
land use planning techniques will be employed in the siting and design
of new military structures and facilities.
(c) Projects and resources required to control sources of
environmental noise, reported in accordance with Sec. 650.166, will be
programed and budgeted using established procedures.
(d) To preclude the need for expensive engineering noise reduction
techniques, the impact of environmental noise should be integrated into
military land use planning. Attention will be given such matters in the
master planning process (AR 210-20) with particular emphasis on--
(1) Routes of high volume traffic flow.
(2) Family housing area locations.
(3) Location of off-post residential areas.
(4) Sites of hospital complexes.
(5) Sites for on-post and off-post school facilities.
(6) Sites for new ranges, impact areas and airfields.
(e) The identification of critical noise rating contours at an
installation for the purpose of aiding in land use planning will be a
required component of each installation master plan (AR 210-20).
Assistance in preparing data for these contours can be obtained through
the Office Chief of Engineers (DAEN-MCE-P) and Construction Engineering
Research Laboratory (CERL). Requests for such assistance are to be
forwarded in accordance with reference CERL Technical Report E-42, table
7-1. Blast noise, helicopter noise and truck noise programs are under
development and OCE will issue Technical Reports in each area.
(f) Technical assistance in quantifying noise problems, identifying
possible violation of standards, making noise surveys for inclusion in
environmental impact assessments or impact statements, etc., may be
requested from the US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency (USA-EHA) in
accordance with Sec. 650.170(b).

Sec. 650.173 Noise complaints.

While not to be used as the sole criterion for judging the severity
of environmental noise impacts, citizen complaints may be indicators of
situations where noise control measures will be necessary. Such
complaints should be logged, investigated, and appropriate corrective
measures taken wherever possible. In many instances, such problems can
be resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the Army and the community
through direct consultation among those involved.

Sec. 650.174 Low-noise-emission products.

Under section 15 of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574),
the US Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for administering
a national program for the development of low-noise-emission products.
EPA certifies new products whose noise emissions are significantly below
the EPA source emission standards for these products as low-noise-
emission products. Such certified products of a commercial nature will
be acquired by purchase by the Army in lieu of other products if the
Administrator of General Services determines that the product costs no
more than 125 percent of the retail price of the least expensive type of
product for which these are certified substitutes. Those products found
to meet the low-noise-emission criteria will be announced as available
through regular supply procurement sources (40 CFR part 203 and Noise
Control Act of 1972, section 15).

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Sec. 650.175 Waivers and exemptions from noise standards.

Requests for exemption or waiver of a Federal or State noise
standard will be forwarded through channels to HQDA (DAEN-ZCE) WASH DC
20310 who will take appropriate action to obtain OSD approval. Waivers
will be requested for the specified period of time (normally one year)
needed to permit compliance. Exemptions must be fully justified on the
basis of mission accomplishment and military necessity.

Table 7-1--Related Publications

Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental
Quality, March 7, 1970 (35 FR 4247).
Executive Order 11752, Prevention, Control, and Abatement of
Environmental Pollution at Federal Facilities, December 19, 1973 (38 FR
243).
DOD Instruction 4165.57, Air Installation Compatible Use Zones, July
30, 1973.
Noise Control Act of 1972, Pub. L. 92-574 (86 Stat. 1248).
Amendment to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require Aircraft
Noise Abatement (Pub. L. 90-411).

AR 40-5 Health and Environment.
AR 210-20 Master Planning for Permanent Army Installations.
AR 385-10 Army Safety Program.
AR 750-20 Prevention, Control, and Abatement of Pollution from Mobile
Equipment.
TB MED 251 Noise and Conservation of Hearing.
MIL-STD 1474 (MI), Noise Limits for Army Material.

User Manual for the Acquisition and Evaluation of Operational Blast
Noise Data, Technical Report E-42, Construction Engineering Research
Laboratory, June 1974. Available under AD No. 782-911/2G1 from National
Technical Information Service (NTIS), Springfield, VA 22151.
Predicting Community Response to Blast Noise, Technical Report E-17,
Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, December 1973. Available
under AD No. 773-690 from NTIS, Springfield, VA 22151.
HUD Dept. Circular 1390.2, Noise Abatement and Control: Department
Policy, Implementation Responsibilities, and Standards.
EPA Document 6E 550/9-74-004, Information on Levels of
Environmental Noise Requisite to Protect Public Health and Welfare with
an Adequate Margin of Safety (March 1974).