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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 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.].
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