Environmental Noise Directive

Noise homepage

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]

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, "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)