EPA Document Collection

About the EPA document collection held by the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse.

Subject Index: A B C E G H I L M O P R S T U W
Title Index: A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U W

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Most useful EPA documents


Title Index

Simplified Noise Strategy Manual
July 1, 1981
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This report was prepared by EPA, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, in support of its function to provide technical assistance to communities. It is one of nine which comprises the Community Noise Assessment Manual. The Manual provides a comprehensive and computerized system for assessing the noise problems of a community and then planning a noise control strategy for its abatement. This manual's objectives are the same as those described in the "Strategy Guidelines for Developing a Community Noise Control Program." It provides however a simplified and manual system for planning the noise control strategy for abating a community's noise problems. It assists comunities in determining, in an objective manner, the efficient allocation of funds for reducing the adverse effects of noise in their community. By following a step-by-step written procedure, a noise planner can be assisted in selecting the most cost-effective noise abatement measures and the amount of money which should be spent on each. The primary criterion for optimization is based on economic and acoustical data gathered in the community.

The Social Impact of Noise
December 31, 1971
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The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Using this definition it is evident that noise can be considered as having an important influence on the health of man. Because of its pervasive influence in all settings, activities and walks of life it has been often cited as a major source of annoyance as well as a threat to physical and mental health. For most people the usual consequences of noise are associated with interference with listening to speech or other sounds, distraction at home and on the job, disturbance of rest and sleep, and disruption of recreational pursuits. All of the foregoing can be considered components of the quality of life. In dealing with the social impact of noise, this report is divided into several sections: 1.Overview 2. Extent of problem - Changing Scope of Problem 3. Effects of Noise 3.1 Medical 3.2 Psychological 3.3 Social.

Some Practical Information on Noise and Hearing Protection
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Sound & Noise
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The purpose of this booklet is to examine some of the basic facts relating to the science of sound, and to discuss various approaches toward controlling noise.

Sound Advice - A Volunteer Noise Abatement Program - Organizer's/Counselor's Guide
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In neighborhoods across the country, people are realizing that noise is a serious matter, and that practical steps are available to reduce noise. Mnay communities have been successful in reducing or eliminating noise problems. The success is usually the result of many individuals and groups working together. As an organizer of a noise abatement program, you can help to bring interested persons together to control or reduce noise. "Sound Advice" is a noise abatement program which cna help to make you community a healthier and better place to live. "Sound Advice" will focus on the use of older persons as volunteers in the noise abatement program. Older Americans are an excellent resource for the program. Many older persons have the time and interest in the community that are required for volunteer noise counselors. Older persons also have various skills from past work or volunteer activities which can be put to use in the campaign against noise. This guide will help concerned individuals who want to organize a noise abatement program in their community. Suggestions are given for establishing a volunteer noise counselor program and for recruiting and working with volunteers. Also included are samples of organizational materials and resource materials for use in establishing your program.

Sound Advice: A Volunteer Noise Counselor's Guide
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In neighborhoods across the country, people are realizing that noise is a serious matter, and that practical steps are available to reduce noise. Mnay communities have been successful in reducing or eliminating noise problems. The success is usually the result of many individuals and groups working together. As a volunteer noise counselor, you can work with other volunteers to control or reduce noise. "Sound Advice" is a noise abatement program which can help to make your community a healthier and better place to live. This handbook will help volunteers interested in acting as noise counselors in a community noise abatement program. It explains the reasons for a noise abatement program, the role of the noise counselor, and some of the techniques a noise counselor can use to reduce neighborhood noise. Also included is an appendix to help locate resource materials and key people in the community.

Sound Advice: A Volunteer Organizer's Guide
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In neighborhoods across the country, people are realizing that noise is a serious matter, and that practical steps are available to reduce noise. Mnay communities have been successful in reducing or eliminating noise problems. The success is usually the result of many individuals and groups working together. As an organizer of a noise abatement program, you can help to bring interested persons together to control or reduce noise. "Sound Advice" is a noise abatement program which cna help to make you community a healthier and better place to live. "Sound Advice" will focus on the use of older persons as volunteers in the noise abatement program. Older Americans are an excellent resource for the program. Many older persons have the time and interest in the community that are required for volunteer noise counselors. Older persons also have various skills from past work or volunteer activities which can be put to use in the campaign against noise. This guide will help concerned individuals who want to organize a noise abatement program in their community. Suggestions are given for establishing a volunteer noise counselor program and for recruiting and working with volunteers. Also included are samples of organizational materials and resource materials for use in establishing your program.

Sound and Hearing
June 4, 1905
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Scientific enquiry into the sense of hearing is as deeply rooted in engineering and physics as in anatomy, physiology and psychology. Each approach has brought its own terminology and concepts and it is sometimes difficult for the non-specialist to obtain a clear picture of the subject. This book is a survey of several of the avenues of interest concerned with the sense of hearing and is intended to clarify some of the established principles. The book is directed to students of medicine and biology, but I think it will be of interest to engineers and possibly those involved in the creative applications of sound.

Sounds Alive - A Noise Workbook
December 1, 1979
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Speech Levels in Various Noise Environments
May 1, 1977
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Research on speech level measurements was conducted under laboratory and non-laboratory conditions. The goal of this study was to determine average speech levels used by people when conversing in different levels of background noise. The non-laboratory or real-life environments where speech was recorded were: high school classrooms, homes, hospitals, department stores, trains and commercial aircraft. Briefly, the results of speech measurements at schools confirmed that teachers in typical classroom situations speak at a consistently higher level (67-78 dB at one meter) than in face-to-face conversation. Further, their vocal effort increased at the rate of 1 dB/dB increase in background noise which ranged from 45 to 55 dB. The speech levels recorded in face-to-face conversation were lower, averaging 55 dB at 1 meter for ambient levels less than 48 dB. But, as the background level increased above 48 dB to 70 dB, people correspondingly raised their voice levels up to 67 dB at the rate of 0.6 dB/dB as the ambient increased. It was also noted that for background levels less than 45 dB. speech levels measured at the listener's ear - disregarding distance between talkers - was also 55 dB. The laboratory portion of the study was conducted in an anechoic chamber. The analysis of approximately 100 observers for four varied speech instructions ("Speak in a normal, raised, loud, and shout voice") showed an orderly progression in level, and shift in spectral emphasis as voice levels increased. A comparison of male and female voice levels for the speech categories normal and raised yielded minimal differences, thus negating conclusions by other researchers that background levels should be lowered to accomodate female speech. This report concludes with recommended background levels to achieve speech intelligibility for the various environments investigated in this study.

State and Municipal Non-Occupational Noise Programs
December 31, 1971
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This document is a report on state and municipal government non-occupational noise abatement and control programs prepared from information obtained in response to a questionnaire disseminated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The questionnaire and a letter of inquiry were part of a study to establish the national need for legislation and research concerning noise abatement and control. They were forwarded by the EPA Administrator to the governors of each state (including Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands) and the mayors of the 153 cities having populations, as of 1970, of 100,000 or more. The questionnaire requested information concerning the level and scope of existing and planned noise abatement and control programs. It furthermore solicited opinions on what additional support programs could be developed by the Federal government. Described herein are the replies of 114 mayors and of 41 governors.

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations from Report to the President and Congress on Noise
December 31, 1971
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In accordance with Title IV, PL 91-604, The Noise Pollution and Abatement Act of 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency conducted extensive research and held a series of public hearings on noise. As required by that Act, the Agency submitted to the President and the Congress a comprehensive "Report on Noise". The Introduction, Summary and Conclusions of the Report, and a listing of the 15 Technical Information Documents prepared as part of the efforts to develop the Report are contained in this pamphlet. Pending publication of the Report by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office; and of the Technical Information Documents by the National Technical Information Service (Dept. of Commerce), limited copies may be made available to those having an urgent need for the data therein. Requests should be directed to the Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Noise Abatement and Control), Washington, D.C. 20460.

Summary Report on the Sixth International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem
November 1, 1994
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Synthesis of Social Surveys on Noise Annoyance
March 1, 1978
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Since noise was first recognized as a serious environmental pollutant, a number of social surveys have been conducted in order to assess the magnitude of the problem and to develop suitable noise ratings, such that, from a measurement of certain physical characteristics of community noise, one could reliably predict the community's subjective response to the noise. Recently, the author has reviewed the data from social surveys concerning the noise of aircraft, street traffic, expressway traffic, and railroads. Going back to the original published data, the various survey noise ratings were translated to day-night average sound level, and an independent judgment was made, where choices were possible, as in which respondents should be counted as "higly annoyed". The results of 11 of these surveys show a remarkable consistency. It is proposed that the average of these curves is the best currently available relationship for predicting community annoyance due to transportation noise of all kinds.