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Environmental Noise Directive
Noise
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EU Directive 2002/49/EC on the management of environmental noise
requires Member States to produce noise maps and action plans for urban
areas and major transport infrastructures, including roads, railways
and airports. As a first step noise maps should be produced for large
agglomerations (>250,000 inhabitants), major roads
(>6million vehicle passages per year), railways (>60,000
train passages per year) and major airports. The deadline for these
maps is 30 June 2007. The maps will also help to identify quiet areas,
which must be preserved. [1] [3]
The maps will highlight the extent of the noise problem and identify
hotspots throughout Europe. Noise Action Plans are to be drawn up on
the basis of the maps. The maps will illustrate noise levels in urban
areas and near major transport infrastructures. These results should be
combined with the latest research on the impacts of noise on health and
wellbeing, to identify areas for priority action and remediation
measures. The data will also permit a precise calculation of the number
of citizens exposed to dangerous noise levels, and the associated costs
to society.
The action plans should be prepared by 2008. Maps and action plans for
smaller cities, towns and infrastructures are to be completed by 2013.
Local, regional and municipal authorities, as well as road, railway and
airport operators will be obliged to consider noise impacts in more
detail in drawing up the action plans.
At European level, the noise maps will provide data on exposure to
major sources of noise, and will permit an in-depth assessment of the
impacts and benefits of future noise measures. Implementation of the
Directive will be reviewed in 2009, when the European Commission has to
submit a report to the European Parliament and Council and will have
the opportunity to present new legislative proposals to reduce noise
emissions from major noise sources.
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[1] EU Environmental Noise
Directive: Directive 2002/49/EC [4], "Directive of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and
management of environmental noise", Official Journal of the European
Communities L 189, 12-25 (2002)
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