Noise Abatement and Control: The Federal Role Page: 1 of 6
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Order Code RS20531
Updated August 24, 2007
~. CRS Report for Congress
Noise Abatement and Control:
The Federal Role
David M. Bearden
Specialist in Environmental Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Summary
Community perceptions of increasing exposure to noise from a wide array of
sources have raised questions about the role of the federal government in regulating
noise, and the adequacy of existing standards. The role of the federal government in
regulating noise has remained fairly constant overall since the enactment of the Noise
Control Act in 1972 (P.L. 92-574). With authorities under this and other related
statutes, the federal government has established, and enforces, standards for maximum
sound levels generated from aircraft and airports, federally funded highways, interstate
motor carriers and railroads, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds,
workplace activities, and portable air compressors. The federal government also
regulates human exposure to noise in federally funded housing. In more recent years,
the federal role has expanded to include regulation of noise generated by human
activities on public lands, including National Parks. State and local governments
determine the extent to which other sources of noise are regulated, including
commercial, industrial, and residential activities. Although noise standards generally
provide a level of protection sufficient to prevent human hearing loss, they vary among
individual sources in terms of what level of sound is permissible. This report explains
potential effects of various sound levels, describes the role of the federal government in
regulating noise, characterizes existing federal standards, discusses the role of state and
local governments, and examines relevant issues.
Introduction
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders, exposure to loud sounds is responsible for hearing impairment in 10 million
of the nearly 30 million people with hearing loss in the United States, and another 30
million people are daily exposed to dangerous noise levels. Many individuals are also
regularly exposed to sound levels that may not lead to hearing loss, but can be intrusive
and impair one's quality of life. Several federal laws require the federal government to
maintain standards for various sources of noise. However, the standards do vary in
stringency among individual sources. Although there is some variance among the
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Noise Abatement and Control: The Federal Role, report, August 24, 2007; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc805701/m1/1/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.