Include Noise Pollution in Climate Change Legislation

The EPA estimates that five percent of all noxious emissions in the United States come from gas-powered leaf blowers and gas-powered lawn mowers. In 2017, the California Air Resources Board noted that “by 2020, gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar equipment in the state could produce more ozone pollution than all the millions of cars in California combined.”

Noise pollution itself is very harmful.  Excessive noise is linked to heart disease, tinnitus, hearing loss, chronic fatigue, aggravated behavior, and sleep deprivation.

The Quiet Communities Act would restore funding for the Office of Noise Abatement and Control and the Office of Noise Enforcement within the EPA.  These agencies were established by the Noise Control Act of 1972 and existed until 1981, when they were de-funded by the Reagan administration. Even though Congress has not appropriated funding for the noise pollution control offices since 1981, the federal Noise Control Act of 1972 remains in effect.

“It will probably be easier to restore the Office of Noise Abatement and Control and the Office of Noise Enforcement within the EPA in a broader bill rather than as a stand-alone piece of legislation,” said Ted Rueter, director of Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet. “Reinstatement of these offices is necessary to combat the scourge of noise pollution and improve America’s public health and quality of life.”

The prospects for Congressional action on climate change seem to be improving. Axios.com reports that Senator Joe Manchin (D., West Virginia) is engaged in negotiations with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., New York) to revive the climate change elements of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” proposal. Reportedly, bipartisan climate change talks have broken down—creating the possibility of passing climate change legislation through the reconciliation process, with only 51 votes required (including the vice president).

Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet encourages all of its supporters to write to members of Congress, the White House, and the EPA, asking them to include the Quiet Communities Act of 2021 in any climate change legislation.

Here is a sample letter:

Dear ____,

I am writing to ask that you support inclusion of H.R. 4892, the Quiet Communities Act of 2021 as part of any climate change legislation.  This bill would reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control with the EPA. Created in 1972, the agency was de-funded by the Reagan administration in 1981. Congress has never reestablished ONAC’s funding.

There is a strong relationship between noise pollution and climate change. According to the EPA, five percent of all noxious emissions in the United States come from gas-powered leaf blowers and gas-powered lawn mowers. In addition, in 2017, the California Air Resources Board stated that “by 2020, gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar equipment in the state could produce more ozone pollution than all the millions of cars in California combined.”

Renewed funding for the federal noise pollution control office is urgently needed. Noise pollution is linked to hearing loss, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, aggressive behavior, and heart disease. Also, noise is a major quality of life issue.  Eighty-five percent of calls to New York City’s quality of life hotline concern noise. A Census Bureau report indicates that noise is Americans’ number one complaint about their neighborhoods and the top reason they wish to move.

Restoring $20 million of annual funding would allow the EPA to promote the development of effective state and local noise control programs, carry out a national noise control research program, hire regional enforcement officials, and develop educational and training materials.

Thank you for your support of a quieter America.

Sincerely yours,

Your Name

With your message, supporters of Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet should also include a link to our position paper on restoring the federal noise pollution control offices.

Here is contact information for messages to the US House of Representatives:

Representative Grace Meng
Sponsor, Quiet Communities Act of 2021
202-225-2601

Representative Frank Pallone
Chair, House Energy and Commerce Committee
202-225-4671 (phone)
202-225-9665 (fax)

Representative Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
Contact | Speaker Nancy Pelosi

To find your member of the US House of Representatives, click here:

Here is contact information for messages to the members of the US Senate:

Senator Joe Manchin
Email Joe | Contact Joe | U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia (senate.gov)

Senator Chuck Schumer
E-Mail Chuck | Contact | U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York (senate.gov)

To find your members of the US Senate, click here:

Here is contact information for the White House:
Contact Us | The White House

Here is contact information for the EPA:

Joseph Goffman
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of Air and Radiation
Environmental Protection Agency
[email protected]
202-564-7400

Ted Rueter stated that “climate change legislation is a great vehicle for restoring funding for the federal noise pollution control offices. Excessive noise is a national problem which requires national action.  Congress needs to protect the American public by reestablishing these agencies.”

Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet is a national citizens’ organization devoted to noise reduction.