How does the United States government regulate noise pollution?
In 1972, the U.S. Congress enacted the Noise Control Act. It declared that the policy of the United States is to promote an environment for all Americans to be free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare. The Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC), was created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee the impact of noise on the general public. In 1982, funding to ONAC was eliminated, depriving citizens of federal protection against noise and its deleterious effects. Noise pollution legislation and enforcement is left to local governments.
