Quiet Communities

2023-06-07
Quiet Communities, Inc. v. EPA: Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Complaint filed June 7, 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Case No. 1:23-CV-1649) by Quiet Communities, Inc. and Jeanne M. Kempthorne against the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Administrator Michael S. Regan. Plaintiffs seek to compel EPA to perform nondiscretionary statutory duties under the Noise Control Act, 42 U.S.C.

TagsEPA, Noise Control Act of 1972, Noise Pollution, Quiet Communities
1979-03-01
Quiet Communities: Minimizing the Effects of Noise through Land Use Controls

Published in March 1979 by the National Association of Counties Research, Inc., this guide examines how local governments can use land use controls—such as zoning and planning regulations—to reduce the impact of noise on residential communities. It covers noise sources including highway and transportation corridors, offering practical strategies for buffering noise-sensitive land uses from high-noise areas. The document is a foundational reference for planners and policymakers working to protect communities from airport, highway, and industrial noise.

TagsLand Use, National Association of Counties Research, Noise, Quiet Communities

Upcoming Events

StART SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table
Add to CalendarMWednesday Aug 26, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Zoom (Virtual Meeting)

Meeting Objectives Introduce the primary feedback themes identified by StART members regarding StART’s Operating Procedures and determine areas that may warrant future discussion. 5:00 PM – Welcome Meeting Management Welcome Lead: Andrés Mantilla, Facilitator, Uncommon Bridges; Wendy Reiter, Airport Managing Director, POS 5:15 PM – Dinner: All participants eat. 5:30 PM – StART Operating Procedures
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Commercial Aviation Work Group
Add to CalendarMThursday Sep 3, 10:00am - 1:30pm
Virtual Meeting (Zoom)

Meeting Agenda 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Welcome – Evan Nordby, Chair a. Introductions and Agenda Reviewb. Status of appointments and non-voting member invitationsc. Other updates as necessary 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Is it practical and legal to operate the western Washington [Puget Sound] airports as a single airport system? – Consultant
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As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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