§7641 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates an Office of Noise Abatement and Control inside the Environmental Protection Agency and requires it to study noise and how it affects public health and welfare. The office must find and classify noise sources and determine things like effects at different levels, projected growth of urban noise through the year 2000, psychological and physical effects on people, how sudden loud noises (like jet noise) compare with steady noise, effects on wildlife and property (including property values), effects of sonic booms, and other public-welfare issues. The EPA Administrator must hold public hearings and run research, tests, and demonstrations, then send a report with recommendations for laws or other action to the President and Congress not later than one year after December 31, 1970. If a federal agency makes noise the Administrator finds to be a public nuisance or otherwise objectionable, that agency must consult with the Administrator to find ways to reduce it.

Title 42, §7641

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator shall establish within the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Noise Abatement and Control, and shall carry out through such Office a full and complete investigation and study of noise and its effect on the public health and welfare in order to (1) identify and classify causes and sources of noise, and (2) determine—

(A)effects at various levels;

(B)projected growth of noise levels in urban areas through the year 2000;

(C)the psychological and physiological effect on humans;

(D)effects of sporadic extreme noise (such as jet noise near airports) as compared with constant noise;

(E)effect on wildlife and property (including values);

(F)effect of sonic booms on property (including values); and

(G)such other matters as may be of interest in the public welfare.

(b)In conducting such investigation, the Administrator shall hold public hearings, conduct research, experiments, demonstrations, and studies. The Administrator shall report the results of such investigation and study, together with his recommendations for legislation or other action, to the President and the Congress not later than one year after December 31, 1970.

(c)In any case where any Federal department or agency is carrying out or sponsoring any activity resulting in noise which the Administrator determines amounts to a public nuisance or is otherwise objectionable, such department or agency shall consult with the Administrator to determine possible means of abating such noise.

Editorial Notes

Codification Another section 402 of act July 14, 1955, as added by Pub. L. 101–549, title IV, § 401, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2585, is classified to section 7651a of this title. Section was formerly classified to section 1858 of this title.

§7641 Noise abatement

Summary

Title 42, §7641

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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