TagDNL65(24)

The FAA's Noise Policy Review examines the growing problem of aircraft noise around airports, comparing historical and current annoyance levels among nearby residents. A Neighborhood Environmental Survey found a substantial increase in the percentage of people highly annoyed by aircraft noise, with annoyance rising consistently across all levels of noise exposure — well above what older models like the Schultz Curve had predicted.

This Port of Seattle document outlines key federal aviation noise and air quality legislation relevant to the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) Federal Working Group, including provisions from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and proposed 2019 legislation. It highlights priority items such as evaluating alternatives to the DNL 65 noise standard, studying health impacts of aircraft noise in major metro areas including Seattle, and creating environmental mitigation grant programs for airports. Additional considerations include secondary noise insulation, increased funding for federal noise programs, and greater flexibility for local communities to address aviation impacts.

Aviation noise consultant Vince Mestre explains to the Port of Seattle why changing the FAA's 65 DNL noise contour standard — the threshold used to determine acceptable aircraft noise near residential areas — would likely require an act of Congress rather than a simple regulatory update. The 65 DNL standard is embedded in at least three federal regulations and orders (CFR 14 Parts 150 and 161, and FAA Order 1050.1F), all of which trace their authority back to enabling legislation such as the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (ASNA) of 1978 and the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990. Because the FAA's rulemaking authority is granted and bounded by those Congressional statutes, modifying ASNA would most likely be required before the FAA could formally lower or otherwise change the noise compatibility standard.

Academic paper presented at the 183rd Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America arguing that the FAA’s 65 dBA day-night average sound level standard is not safe for public health. The paper discusses how the EPA calculated safer levels at 55 dB for outdoor activities and 45 dB for indoor activities, and examines the non-auditory