Let's Keep The Noise Down, Urges U-m Professor Bolt

An interim report recommending more stringent local, state and federal limits on vehicular noise has been released by Prof. Jay A. Bolt of the University's College of Engineering. Bolt, who played a leading role in the adoption of Ann Arbor ordinances on noise, is director of a research project entitled "A Study of Noise Abatement Legislation: The Engineering-Legal 7 siderations." It is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1, 1972. The interim report was prepared by Brian L. Brown, a professional engineer and former engineering professor who is studying law at the U-M. It presents results of interviews with legislators, pólice officers, public health officials and scientists. Brown's report notes that "more people are being adversely affected by noise pollution than are being affected by air pollution, due to substances in the air. Of all the environmental pollutants, ! noise is among the most annoying, the j least regulated, but the easiest and least j costly to control. "Noise control in the United States I has not advanced as rapidly as in European countries or as rapidly as it should to keep pace with the needs of modern society," the report says. Tentative recommendations for model legislation at the local level include the use of noise meters along the roadside and establishment of noise levéis in zoning ordinances. At the state level, the report recommends tentative model legislation which would include maximum noise levéis on equipment sold in the state, roadside noise checks and mandatory vehicle safety inspection which would include a check for noisy or defective exhaust systems. . Federal legislation recommended in the report would include maximum permissible liffiits on noise levéis for cíes sold in the United States. "This type of legislation would provide uniformity for the manufacturer in the samé way that air pollution legislation has," the report says. ' ' S u c h legislation is common in Europe. It is interesting to note that England devotes as much effort to controlling noise as it does to the control of substances in the air (air pollution). It has also been common for certain car manufacturers, because of Swiss tion, to put better mufflers on automobiles sold in Switzerland than those sold in the United States," according to the report. Bolt has provided information and recommendations to State Kep. Raymond J. Smit, R-Ann Arbor, which are being used in bilis introduced by Smit and other Michigan legislators, setting decibel limits for automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and construction equipm i ■ '■ -,-MBBBB