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Quiet Communities, Inc. v. EPA: Memorandum Opinion and Order (Case No. 23-cv-1649)

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A federal court ruled in July 2026 that the EPA has unlawfully delayed carrying out its duties under the Noise Control Act of 1972, a law that has remained on the books even though the agency effectively shut down its noise control program in 1982 after Congress approved President Reagan's budget cuts. The lawsuit, brought by Quiet Communities, Inc. and Jeanne Kempthorne, argued that over forty years of EPA inaction on noise regulation violated the agency's legal obligations. The court granted partial summary judgment for the plaintiffs on four counts, finding the decades-long delay unreasonable, while dismissing other claims for lack of jurisdiction or failure on the merits.

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U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia memorandum opinion and order in Quiet Communities, Inc. et al. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency et al., Case No. 23-cv-1649 (JMC), filed July 16, 2026. Judge grants in part and denies in part cross-motions for summary judgment. Court finds EPA unreasonably delayed implementing the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 on counts one, two, three, and eight. EPA phased out the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in 1982 following Reagan administration budget cuts; Congress never repealed the Noise Control Act. Plaintiffs Quiet Communities, Inc. and Jeanne Kempthorne allege agency failure to publish reports, issue regulations, assist state and local governments, and coordinate federal noise control efforts under 42 U.S.C. §§ 4901–4914.

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