Noise Control Act of 1972
The Noise Control Act of 1972 is a significant piece of legislation aimed at addressing the growing concern over noise pollution, which is defined as any unwanted sound that can adversely affect health and well-being. As technological advancements led to skyrocketing noise levels, awareness grew about the negative impacts of noise on individuals, particularly regarding hearing loss, mental health, and stress. The act emerged in response to increasing public concern and scientific evidence highlighting the dangers of both high-decibel noise and prolonged exposure to lower levels of sound.
This legislation established noise emission standards for various sources, including commercial products, aircraft, and vehicles, mandating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to coordinate federal noise research and regulation efforts. Additionally, it required comprehensive environmental impact studies for new infrastructure projects, emphasizing the importance of mitigating noise in urban planning. The legislation also led to the development of model noise ordinances, which set permissible sound levels for different areas and times, contributing to more effective land use planning and the creation of quieter living spaces. Overall, the Noise Control Act marked a pivotal moment in recognizing noise as a serious public health issue and initiated measures to promote a quieter, healthier environment.
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Subject Terms
Noise Control Act of 1972
Identification Noise emission standards for commercial products, aircraft, railroads, and trucks
Date Signed into law on October 27, 1972
Recognizing that noise pollution, just as air or water pollution, can be harmful to health, Congress enacted this law as an attempt to regulate and control noise.
Noise, like other forms of pollution, increased steadily with advances in technology. During the first half of the twentieth century, noise levels increased exponentially, but no coordinated effort at regulation existed because noise was not generally perceived as being a problem. Defining noise as any unwanted sound, however, indicates that the problem is pervasive and epidemic. People began to recognize, for example, that the extremely loud sounds experienced in industrial environments would eventually lead to permanent hearing loss, yet the much lower levels of sound encountered daily by average citizens were considered a mere annoyance. However, experts soon realized that noise is more than mere annoyance; even relatively low levels can adversely affect an individual’s physical and mental health. Noise interferes with sleep stages, can impair performance of difficult tasks, produce anxiety, and increase stress. Chronic exposure may cause such adverse physiological effects as elevated blood pressure and increased hormone excretion.
Experts also began to understand that noise is particularly problematic to the young, the infirm, and the elderly. Children constantly surrounded by excessive environmental noise learn to tune it out; after entering school, they need to be trained to listen and focus their attention. For the ill, noise lengthens recuperation time and often results in extended medical treatments.
During the 1960’s, various studies documented the dangers of high-decibel noise and the concealed risks of long-term exposure to lower levels. As environmental awareness increased as the 1970’s began, citizens became increasingly more concerned about attempting to control environmental noise pollution. Pressured by environmental groups and concerned citizens, Congress enacted the Noise Control Act in 1972. This legislation set noise emission standards for commercial products, aircraft, and ground vehicles. The act also required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to coordinate all federal programs relating to noise research, control, and regulation. The EPA was authorized to require environmental impact studies for new highways and industrial sites. It was also mandated to finance research on noise control, provide technical assistance to state and local governments, and disseminate public information about noise hazards.
Impact
As a consequence of the act, the EPA prepared model noise ordinances specifying maximum allowable sound levels for various regions—residential, commercial, and industrial—for different times of day. Because of this act, much more attention was given to land use planning and creating quieter residential areas. Housing developments began to be kept separated from industrial areas, and concrete noise-reducing barriers were routinely installed along interstate highways passing near residential areas.
Bibliography
Baron, Robert Alex. The Tyranny of Noise. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1970.
Strong, William J., and George R. Plitnik. Music, Speech, Audio. Provo, Utah: Soundprint, 1992.