,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cche ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #bc1 #bjah,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself and ,mr4 ,schumer7 introduced the following bill2 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 ,agency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,quiet ,communities ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,approximately #bh1jjj1jjj people of the ,united ,states are afflicted with hearing loss1 and it has been estimated that #aj1jjj1jjj of these hearing impairments are at least partially attributable to damage from exposure to noise4 7#b7 ,for millions of people of the ,united ,states1 noise from aircraft1 vehicular traffic1 and a variety of other sources is a constant source of torment4 7#c7 ,millions of people of the ,united ,states are exposed to noise levels that can lead to sleep loss1 psychological and physiological damage1 and work disruption4 7#d7 ,chronic exposure to noise has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders1 learning deficits in children1 stress1 and a diminished quality of life4 7#e7 ,sleep deprivation and task interruptions caused by excessive noise can result in untold costs to society through diminished worker productivity4 7#f7 ,under the ,clean ,air ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gdja et seq471 the ,noise ,control ,act of #aigb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dija et seq471 and the ,quiet ,communities ,act of #aigh 7,public ,law #ie-fji2 #ib ,stat4 #cjgi71 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency established an ,office of ,noise ,abatement and ,control4 7#g7 ,before the termination of the ,office of ,noise ,abatement and ,control1 the duties of the ,office included-- 7,a7 the promulgation of noise emission standards2 7,b7 the enforcement of relevant product labeling requirements2 7,c7 the facilitation of the development of low-noise emission products2 7,d7 the coordination of ,federal noise reduction programs2 7,e7 the provision of assistance to ,state and local abatement efforts2 and 7,f7 the promotion of noise education and research4 7#h7 ,funding for the ,office was terminated in #aihb and no funds have been provided since that year4 7#i7 ,noise abatement programs throughout the ,united ,states lie dormant because-- 7,a7 funding for the enforcement of regulations promulgated under the ,noise ,control ,act of #aigb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dija et seq47 was terminated1 although the ,administrator remains legally responsible for the enforcement of the regulations2 and 7,b7 the ,noise ,control ,act of #aigb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dija et seq47 prohibits ,state and local governments from regulating noise sources in many situations4 7#aj7 ,as population growth and air and vehicular traffic continue to increase1 noise pollution is likely to become an even greater problem in the future4 7#aa7 ,the health and welfare of the people of the ,united ,states demands that the ,administrator1 as the head of the lead ,federal agency for the protection of public health and welfare1 once again assume a role in combating noise pollution4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,noise ,abatement and ,control4 #d4 ,reestablishment of the ,office 7a7 ,reestablishment ,the ,administrator shall reestablish within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency the ,office of ,noise ,abatement and ,control4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,office shall-- 7#a7 promote the development of effective ,state and local noise control programs by providing ,states with technical assistance and grants to develop the programs1 including the purchase of equipment for local communities2 7#b7 carry out a national noise control research program to assess the impacts of noise from varied noise sources on mental and physical health2 7#c7 carry out a national noise environmental assessment program-- 7,a7 to identify trends in noise exposure and response1 ambient levels1 and compliance data2 and 7,b7 to determine the effectiveness of noise abatement actions1 including actions for areas around major transportation facilities 7such as highways1 railroad facilities1 and airports72 7#d7 develop and disseminate information and educational materials about the mental and physical effects of noise and the most effective means for noise control to the public through the use of materials for school curricula1 volunteer organizations1 radio and television programs1 publications1 and other means1 as determined by the ,administrator2 7#e7 develop educational and training materials and programs1 including national and regional workshops1 to support ,state and local noise abatement and control programs2 7#f7 establish regional technical assistance centers which use the capabilities of university and private organizations to assist ,state and local noise control programs2 7#g7 assess of the effectiveness of the ,noise ,control ,act of #aigb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dija et seq472 and 7#h7 carry out other activities1 as determined by the ,administrator4 7c7 ,preferred approaches ,in carrying out the duties described in subsection 7b71 the ,office shall emphasize noise abatement approaches that rely on-- 7#a7 ,state and local activities2 7#b7 market incentives2 and 7#c7 coordination with other public and private agencies4 7d7 ,study 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall enter into one or more contracts or other agreements with independent scientists who have expertise in noise measurements1 noise effects1 and noise abatement techniques to carry out a study of airport noise4 7#b7 ,contents ,the study under paragraph 7#a7 shall examine-- 7,a7 the selection of noise measurement methodologies by the ,federal ,aviation ,administration2 7,b7 the threshold of noise at which humans experience health impacts2 and 7,c7 the effectiveness of noise abatement programs at airports throughout the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report that describes-- 7,a7 the results of the study under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 specific recommendations for new measures to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on communities located near airports4 7#d7 ,funding ,the study under paragraph 7#a7 shall be carried out with funds made available to the ,office under section #f4 #e4 ,quiet ,communities ,program ,grants ,section #ad7;c77#a7 of the ,noise ,control ,act of #aigb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diac7;c77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking and1 at the end2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 establishing and implementing training programs on the use of noise abatement equipment2 and 7,f7 implementing noise abatement plans2 4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act #ba1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjai through #bjbc4