
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: 42USC4913]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 65--NOISE CONTROL
 
Sec. 4913. Quiet communities, research, and public information

    To promote the development of effective State and local noise 
control programs, to provide an adequate Federal noise control research 
program designed to meet the objectives of this chapter, and to 
otherwise carry out the policy of this chapter, the Administrator shall, 
in cooperation with other Federal agencies and through the use of 
grants, contracts, and direct Federal actions--
        (a) develop and disseminate information and educational 
    materials to all segments of the public on the public health and 
    other effects of noise and the most effective means for noise 
    control, through the use of materials for school curricula, 
    volunteer organizations, radio and television programs, publication, 
    and other means;
        (b) conduct or finance research directly or with any public or 
    private organization or any person on the effects, measurement, and 
    control of noise, including but not limited to--
            (1) investigation of the psychological and physiological 
        effects of noise on humans and the effects of noise on domestic 
        animals, wildlife, and property, and the determination of dose/
        response relationships suitable for use in decisionmaking, with 
        special emphasis on the nonauditory effects of noise;
            (2) investigation, development, and demonstration of noise 
        control technology for products subject to possible regulation 
        under sections 4905 and 4907 of this title and section 44715 of 
        title 49;
            (3) investigation, development, and demonstration of 
        monitoring equipment and other technology especially suited for 
        use by State and local noise control programs;
            (4) investigation of the economic impact of noise on 
        property and human activities; and
            (5) investigation and demonstration of the use of economic 
        incentives (including emission charges) in the control of noise;

        (c) administer a nationwide Quiet Communities Program which 
    shall include, but not be limited to--
            (1) grants to States, local governments, and authorized 
        regional planning agencies for the purpose of--
                (A) identifying and determining the nature and extent of 
            the noise problem within the subject jurisdiction;
                (B) planning, developing, and establishing a noise 
            control capacity in such jurisdiction, including purchasing 
            initial equipment;
                (C) developing abatement plans for areas around major 
            transportation facilities (including airports, highways, and 
            rail yards) and other major stationary sources of noise, 
            and, where appropriate, for the facility or source itself; 
            and,
                (D) evaluating techniques for controlling noise 
            (including institutional arrangements) and demonstrating the 
            best available techniques in such jurisdiction;

            (2) purchase of monitoring and other equipment for loan to 
        State and local noise control programs to meet special needs or 
        assist in the beginning implementation of a noise control 
        program or project;
            (3) development and implementation of a quality assurance 
        program for equipment and monitoring procedures of State and 
        local noise control programs to help communities assure that 
        their data collection activities are accurate;
            (4) conduct of studies and demonstrations to determine the 
        resource and personnel needs of States and local governments 
        required for the establishment and implementation of effective 
        noise abatement and control programs; and
            (5) development of education and training materials and 
        programs, including national and regional workshops, to support 
        State and local noise abatement and control programs;

    except that no actions, plans or programs hereunder shall be 
    inconsistent with existing Federal authority under this chapter to 
    regulate sources of noise in interstate commerce;
        (d) develop and implement a national noise environmental 
    assessment program to identify trends in noise exposure and 
    response, ambient levels, and compliance data and to determine 
    otherwise the effectiveness of noise abatement actions through the 
    collection of physical, social, and human response data;
        (e) establish regional technical assistance centers which use 
    the capabilities of university and private organizations to assist 
    State and local noise control programs;
        (f) provide technical assistance to State and local governments 
    to facilitate their development and enforcement of noise control, 
    including direct onsite assistance of agency or other personnel with 
    technical expertise, and preparation of model State or local 
    legislation for noise control; and
        (g) provide for the maximum use in programs assisted under this 
    section of senior citizens and persons eligible for participation in 
    programs under the Older Americans Act [42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.].

(Pub. L. 92-574, Sec. 14, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1244; Pub. L. 95-609, 
Sec. 2, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3079.)

                       References in Text

    The Older Americans Act, referred to in subsec. (g), probably means 
the Older Americans Act of 1965, Pub. L. 89-73, July 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 
218, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (Sec. 3001 
et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the 
Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3001 of this title and 
Tables.

                          Codification

    In subsec. (b)(2), ``section 44715 of title 49'' substituted for 
reference to section 7 of this Act, meaning section 7 of Pub. L. 92-574, 
which generally amended section 611 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 
(49 App. U.S.C. 1431), on authority of Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 6(b), July 
5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first section of which enacted subtitles 
II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.


                               Amendments

    1978--Pub. L. 95-609 completely revised and restructured existing 
provisions, inserting provisions relating to authorized use of grants 
and direct action, investigation of economic impact of noise, 
administration of Quiet Communities Program, development of noise 
assessment program, establishment of regional centers, technical 
assistance to State and local governments, and use by senior citizens of 
these programs.
