§4917 Motor Carrier Noise Emission Standards

Summary

The federal government requires a rule to limit how loud interstate motor carriers can be. The EPA Administrator had to publish proposed noise rules within nine months after October 27, 1972, and must set limits that reflect the noise reduction possible with the best available technology while keeping costs in mind. After the proposal is published, the Administrator must issue final rules within 90 days and can update them later. The Administrator must talk with the Secretary of Transportation before making or changing rules, and must give industry enough time to develop and apply the needed technology before the rules take effect. The Secretary of Transportation must make rules to enforce those noise limits and use federal transportation enforcement and inspection powers to do so. Once a federal noise rule for interstate motor carriers is in effect, states cannot make their own different rules for the same operations unless the state rule is identical. States may still set local noise controls or restrict use when special local conditions require it, but only if the Administrator, after consulting the Secretary, agrees this is necessary and it does not conflict with the federal rule. "Motor carrier" here includes both motor carriers and motor private carriers as defined in 49 U.S.C. 13102.