THE NEED FOR A UNIFIED COMMUNITY NOISE POLICY

摘要

There exists in the United States, today, an assortment of federal, state and local legislation and regulations which attempt to define and manage community noise. However, there can be a serious conflict between these mandates. These conflicts may be simply differences in the sound level limits that each regulation imposes on a given source. Further, various agencies may use different metrics to characterize the offending source noise. Also, there can be cases where multiple sources individually comply with applicable noise limits, but in combination place an unacceptable noise level burden on the community. These conflicts arise because many governing noise policies are source (emission) oriented, limiting levels at a neighboring property line. In general, community noise policy in the US has had limited success in controlling specific noise sources, while failing to contain the geographical spread and rise in noise levels. Another approach is to manage the total noise environment of the receiving person. Using noise exposure effects (immission) methodology to assess community impact may provide the tools needed to harmonize conflicting noise policies. It is time for a serious debate on the policy direction needed to improve our environment.