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Transportation Noise: Federal Control and Abatement Responsibilities May Need to Be Revised

RCED-90-11 Published: Oct 12, 1989. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 1989.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined aircraft, highway, and railroad noise, focusing on the: (1) extent of the transportation noise problem; (2) status of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) noise control activities and plans when it eliminated its program; and (3) current federal, state, and local noise control activities.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress may wish to reexamine the federal role with regard to transportation noise control and abatement. Key considerations for Congress are the extent of the transportation noise problem, local needs for assistance in dealing with them, and the cost of additional activities to carry out an increased federal role.
Closed – Implemented
The Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Public Works and Transportation, held hearings during September 1990 on the economic impacts of a national aircraft noise policy. The Research and Development Subcommittee held hearings on aircraft noise during September 1990. DOT issued a national noise policy in late 1991. The noisiest aircraft will be phased out.

Full Report

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Topics

Agency missionsAirlinesEnvironmental lawEnvironmental monitoringFederal aid highwaysstate relationsInteragency relationsNoise pollution controlState programsTransportationTransportation industry