Noise Regulations and Replacement Mufflers

[burkbuilds]

I've heard a lot of people on here refer to any exhaust modifications as "illegal" if they don't meet original factory specifications. I don't have a definitive answer, but I did google the EPA and some websites about the subject to see what I could find. From what I've read, and I haven't researched this in any great depth, the EPA basically lost funding for the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 in 1981, and they don't regulate anything to do with noise any more. Their position seems to be that local (State/County/City) government is responsible to make and inforce any regulations, but the Feds are basically out of it other than "guidelines" that they recommend, but no enforcement, except the FAA has control of airplane and airport noise regulation.
Here's a little of what I found on the EPA's site, I though you might want to read it. I welcome any comments, and I'd like to know if any of you live in areas where they have and enforce noise ordinances for vehicles.

EPA Noise Pollution Statement from their website:
http://publicaccess.custhelp.com/cgi-bi ... faqid=1765

Answer ID
1765

Last Updated
04/07/2009 03:22 AM





Does the EPA regulate noise? Where are there resources about noise pollution?

Question
Does the EPA regulate noise? Where are there resources about noise pollution?

Answer
Community noise
EPA does not have any regulatory authority governing noise in local communities. You should consult with your local governmental (e.g., city and county) authorities to see if there are local or state laws that might apply to your situation. In addition, many states run noise pollution programs. To contact your state environmental agency for more information on their programs and regulations, see http://www.epa.gov/epahome/state.htm
The Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, http://nonoise.org/ , provides many noise-related resources, including:
• EPA documents that are not on EPA's site: http://nonoise.org/epa.htm
• A list of citizen organizations that combat noise: http://nonoise.org/quietnet.htm
• Resources for noises from air bags, barking dogs, boom cars, construction, jet skis, leaf blowers, personal computers, racetracks, swimming pool filter motors, and vehicles http://nonoise.org/resource.htm
• A law library: http://nonoise.org/lawlib.htm
Other sources of noise
In the past, EPA coordinated all federal noise control activities through its Office of Noise Abatement and Control. In 1981, the Administration at that time concluded that noise issues were best handled at the state or local government level. As a result, the EPA phased out the office's funding in 1982 as part of a shift in federal noise control policy to transfer the primary responsibility of regulating noise to state and local governments. The Noise Control Act of 1972 and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978, however, were not rescinded by Congress and remain in effect today, although essentially unfunded.
Note that all federal noise regulations remain in effect, and are enforced by either EPA or a designated federal agency. These regulations cover standards for transportation equipment, motor carriers, low-noise-emission products, and construction equipment. You can view them at the Government Printing Office Web site at
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/te ... v24_02.tpl (scroll to Subchapter G)
The individuals listed below can assist you with issues related to the federal noise regulations.
Ken Feith: feith.ken@epa.gov
Mailing Address:
6103A
USEPA Headquarters
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20460
Ken Mittelholtz: mittelholtz.ken@epa.gov
Mailing Address:
2252A
USEPA Headquarters
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20460
• Airport noise: EPA still works on issues related to airport noise. Please contact one of the EPA individuals above for assistance.
• Aviation noise: Information about aircraft or plane noise can be obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration Web site on aircraft noise Issues, http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/hea ... aft_noise/
In addition, the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise (FICAN) was formed in 1993 to provide forums for debate over future research needs to better understand, predict and control the effects of aviation noise, and to encourage new technical development efforts in these areas.
•
o FICAN: http://www.fican.org/
• Railroad/locomotive horn noise: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Web site includes information on the Railroad Noise Emission Compliance Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR 210), http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/264
The FRA Web site also includes information about the 2005 Use of Locomotive Horns Final Rule at http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1318
• Interstate motor carrier noise: The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety Web site includes information on the Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Emission Compliance Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR 325) at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulati ... on_toc=730
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Part 325: Compliance with interstate motor carrier noise emission standards










Subpart G—Exhaust systems and tires
§325.91 Exhaust systems.
A motor vehicle does not conform to the visual exhaust system inspection requirements, 40 CFR 202.22, of the Interstate Motor Carriers Noise Emission Standards, if inspection of the exhaust system of the motor vehicle discloses that the system-
(a) Has a defect which adversely affects sound reduction, such as exhaust gas leaks or alteration or deterioration of muffler elements, (small traces of soot on flexible exhaust pipe sections shall not constitute a violation of this subpart);
(b) Is not equipped with either a muffler or other noise dissipative device, such as a turbocharger (supercharger driven by exhaust gases); or
(c) Is equipped with a cut-out, by-pass, or similar device, unless such device is designed as an exhaust gas driven cargo unloading system.

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