In 1968, United States Surgeon General William Stewart declared noise a public health hazard that contributes to hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and psychological disorders [1]. Yet today, because of a single action taken more than 40 years ago at the start of a new federal Administration, the US has no federal noise control program.

In the Clean Air Amendments of 1970 (Public Law 91-604), Congress mandated a “full and complete investigation and study of noise and its effect on the public health and welfare and established the Office of Noise Abatement and Control within the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Two years later, Congress, acting on the results of that investigation, enacted the Noise Control Act of 1972 (NCA) “to promote an environment for all Americans free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare,” to coordinate Federal agency noise activities, to authorize federal noise emission standards, and to educate the public on noise and noise reduction (42 U.S.C. § 4901(b)). In 1978, Congress strengthened that legislation by passing the Quiet Communities Act (42 U.S.C. § 4913) as an amendment to the NCA, thereby authorizing EPA to provide informational, technical, and financial assistance to State and local governments.

1968 年，美国卫生局局长 William Stewart 宣布噪音是一种公共健康危害，会导致听力损失、心血管疾病、代谢疾病和心理障碍 [1]。然而今天，由于 40 多年前新联邦政府成立时采取的一项行动，美国没有联邦噪音控制计划。

在 1970 年的《清洁空气修正案》（公法 91-604）中，国会要求“对噪声及其对公众健康和福利的影响进行全面彻底的调查和研究，并在新成立的环境局内设立噪声消减和控制办公室”。保护局（EPA）。两年后，国会根据调查结果，颁布了《1972 年噪音控制法案》(NCA)，“为所有美国人营造一个远离危害健康或福利的噪音的环境”，协调联邦机构的噪音活动，授权联邦噪声排放标准，并对公众进行有关噪声和降噪的教育（42 USC § 4901(b)）。 1978 年，国会通过了《安静社区法案》(42 USC § 4913) 作为 NCA 的修正案，从而强化了该立法，从而授权 EPA 向州和地方政府提供信息、技术和财政援助。