FILE s951.is
          S 951 IS 
          105th CONGRESS
          1st Session
          To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the
          Environmental Protection Agency.
                           IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
                                      June 24, 1997
          Mr. TORRICELLI  (for himself and Mr. SARBANES) introduced the
              following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
              Committee on Environment and Public Works
                                         A BILL
          To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the
          Environmental Protection Agency.
           Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
          Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
          assembled, 
          SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
            This Act may be cited as the `Quiet Communities Act of 1997'.
          SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
            Congress finds that--
                (1)(A) for too many citizens of the United States, noise from
              aircraft, vehicular traffic, and a variety of other sources is 
              a constant source of torment; and
                (B) nearly 20,000,000 citizens of the United States are
              exposed to noise levels that can lead to psychological and
              physiological damage, and another 40,000,000 people are exposed
              to noise levels that cause sleep or work disruption;
                (2)(A) chronic exposure to noise has been linked to increased
              risk of cardiovascular problems, strokes, and nervous 
              disorders; and
                (B) excessive noise causes sleep deprivation and task
              interruptions, which pose untold costs on society in diminished
              worker productivity;
                (3)(A) to carry out the Clean Air Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 7401
              et seq.), the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et
              seq.), and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (Public Law 
              95-609; 92 Stat. 3079), the Administrator of the Environmental
              Protection Agency established an Office of Noise Abatement and
              Control;
                (B) the responsibilities of the Office of Noise Abatement and
              Control included promulgating noise emission standards,
              requiring product labeling, facilitating the development of low
              emission products, coordinating Federal noise reduction
              programs, assisting State and local abatement efforts, and
              promoting noise education and research; and
                (C) funding for the Office of Noise Abatement and Control was
              terminated in 1982 and no funds have been provided since;
                (4) because the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
              Agency remains responsible for enforcing regulations issued
              under the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.)

              even though funding for the Office of Noise Abatement and
              Control has been terminated, and because that Act prohibits
              State and local governments from regulating noise sources in
              many situations, noise abatement programs across the United
              States lie dormant;
                (5) as the population grows and air and vehicle traffic
              continues to increase, noise pollution is likely to become an
              even greater problem in the future; and
                (6) the health and welfare of the citizens of the United
              States demands that the Environmental Protection Agency once
              again assume a role in combating noise pollution.
          SEC. 3. REESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF NOISE ABATEMENT AND CONTROL.
            (a) REESTABLISHMENT- 
                (1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator of the Environmental
              Protection Agency shall reestablish an Office of Noise 
              Abatement and Control (referred to in this Act as the `Office').
                (2) RESPONSIBILITIES- The Office shall be responsible for--
                    (A) coordinating Federal noise abatement activities;
                    (B) updating or developing noise standards;
                    (C) providing technical assistance to local communities;
                  and
                    (D) promoting research and education on the impacts of
                  noise pollution.
                (3) EMPHASIZED APPROACHES- The Office shall emphasize noise
              abatement approaches that rely on State and local activity,
              market incentives, and coordination with other public and
              private agencies.
            (b) STUDY- 
                (1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 18 months after the date of
              enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental
              Protection Agency shall submit a study on airport noise to
              Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration.
                (2) AREAS OF STUDY- The study shall--
                    (A) examine the Federal Aviation Administration's
                  selection of noise measurement methodologies;
                    (B) the threshold of noise at which health impacts are
                  felt; and
                    (C) the effectiveness of noise abatement programs at
                  airports around the United States.
                (3) RECOMMENDATIONS- The study shall include specific
              recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration on new
              measures that should be implemented to mitigate the impact of
              aircraft noise on surrounding communities.
          SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
            There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
                (1) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000;
              and
                (2) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002.