
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC4901]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 65--NOISE CONTROL
 
Sec. 4901. Congressional findings and statement of policy

    (a) The Congress finds--
        (1) that inadequately controlled noise presents a growing danger 
    to the health and welfare of the Nation's population, particularly 
    in urban areas;
        (2) that the major sources of noise include transportation 
    vehicles and equipment, machinery, appliances, and other products in 
    commerce; and
        (3) that, while primary responsibility for control of noise 
    rests with State and local governments, Federal action is essential 
    to deal with major noise sources in commerce control of which 
    require national uniformity of treatment.

    (b) The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States 
to promote an environment for all Americans free from noise that 
jeopardizes their health or welfare. To that end, it is the purpose of 
this chapter to establish a means for effective coordination of Federal 
research and activities in noise control, to authorize the establishment 
of Federal noise emission standards for products distributed in 
commerce, and to provide information to the public respecting the noise 
emission and noise reduction characteristics of such products.

(Pub. L. 92-574, Sec. 2, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1234.)


                      Short Title of 1978 Amendment

    Pub. L. 95-609, Sec. 1, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3079, provided: 
``That this Act [amending sections 4905, 4910, 4913, 4918, 6901, 6903, 
6907, 6913, 6922, 6923, 6925, to 6928, 6947, 6961, 6962, 6964, 6972, 
6973, 6977, and 6981 to 6984 of this title and section 1431 of former 
Title 49, Transportation, and enacting provision set out as a note under 
section 1431 of former Title 49] may be cited as the `Quiet Communities 
Act of 1978'.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 92-574 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this 
chapter, amending section 1431 of former Title 49, Transportation, and 
enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1431 
of former Title 49] may be cited as the `Noise Control Act of 1972'.''


           Federal Compliance With Pollution Control Standards

    For provisions relating to the responsibility of the head of each 
Executive agency for compliance with applicable pollution control 
standards, see Ex. Ord. No. 12088, Oct. 13, 1978, 43 F.R. 47707, set out 
as a note under section 4321 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 4903 of this title.
