Volume 6, Number 4, December, 1998 - Noise News International

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· . j - II Editor's View Noise Policy in the European Union The impact of the existing European Union (EU) directives on the reduction of noise emission is considerable: there are controls on passenger cars, buses, as well as two- and threewheeled vehicles. European cities would be much noisier without these directives. On the other hand, the increase in the number of motor vehicles and aircraft is canceling the effect of the directives, and noise exposure tends to increase. Furthermore, the type testing procedures for noise emission have important shortcomings, which significantly limit their effectiveness. The Commission published the Green Paper on Future Noise Policy in 1996 November (seeNNI, Vol. 5, No.2, 1997 June, pp. 77 - 98). This was the first step in the development of a noise policy with the objective that no person should be exposed to noise levels which endanger health and quality of life. The Green Paper was widely distributed. The public studied it, and about 450 comments were received. It was circulated within EU Institutions and debated during specific workshops and meetings organized at local, international, and technical levels. The majority of the comments on the Green Paper indicated that more action was required of the EU to improve the situation. The added value lies in its potential to: • harmonize indicators, • set targets, and • determine harmonized assessment methods for environment noise. This leads to possibilities to influence the noise emissions of machinery and means of transport. The comments received confirm the need for an EU noise policy; the Green Paper has raised expectations which the Commission will have to honor. The Commission's follow-up to the Green Paper responses has been developed bearing in mind that the objective is to identify the noise problems and to put in place the framework needed to remedy them. It has therefore been proposed that the necessary framework be created to assess noise, to inform the public about it and to reduce noise levels through action plans. In a complementary action at the EU level, noise from sources and products will be examined to determine what controls on noise emission are required. Further to the debate on the Green Paper, it has been decided to launch the EU Noise Policy in 1998 to provide a coherent and coordinated approach requested by so many informed and knowledgeable commentators. The follow-up plan consists of the following measures: • A Framework Directive on Noise Assessment and Reduction of Environmental Noise, and • Development and co-ordination of measures at the EU level to reduce noise from sources. In order to prepare the framework directive' several Expert Working Groups have been created. Research and development activities will be needed to support most of these working groups. The Commission has invited non-governmental organizations, industry, and local authorities, the World Health Organization, the European Environmental Agency, and the Joint Research Center in Ispra to participate in one or more of the Working Groups. An Invitational Conference on the EU's Future Noise Policy was organized in Copenhagen on 1998 September 7-8. A report on this Conference can be found on page 225 of this issue. -Andre Cops European Editor 198 NoiselNews International 1998 December
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Page 3 and 4: Editorial Stllff G. Maling, Jr., Ma
Page 5 and 6: Anechoic Chambers with EMW lining T
Page 7: "Finally, an Outdoor Sound Propagat
Page 11 and 12: Feature Noise Control Standards for
Page 13 and 14: specify in more detail relevant mea
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Page 17 and 18: References 1. Council Directive 89/
Page 19 and 20: Feature Advances in Acoustical Stan
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Page 37 and 38: Pan-American News George Maling, Pa
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Page 41 and 42: Newly published ISO and IEC Standar
Page 43 and 44: ACOUSTICS ANSI Sl.15-1997-Part 1, M
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Volume 6, Number 4, December, 1998 - Noise News International

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