[Title 32 CFR 650.169]
[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]
[Sec. 650.169 - Noise measurement standards.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


32NATIONAL DEFENSE42002-07-012002-07-01false650.169Sec. 650.169NATIONAL DEFENSEDepartment of Defense (Continued)DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (CONTINUED)ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT (AR 200-1)Environmental Noise Abatement
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.