What's happening
This bill requires New York airports to use a standardized metric for measuring and reporting airport noise impacts to better protect public health.
Why it matters
Establishes a single, scientifically recognized method (the Community Noise Equivalent Level, or CNEL) for measuring airport noise statewide. , which could lead to more accurate and comparable data across different airports and communities, making it easier to assess and address noise impacts.
Requires airports to account for greater sensitivity to noise during evenings and nights (when people are at home or sleeping),. potentially leading to more stringent noise mitigation policies or operational changes that better protect those most affected during these periods.
Aligns New York airport noise studies with federal and international health guidelines. by referencing standards from the EPA, FAA, and World Health Organization, which could strengthen public health protections and improve the credibility of state and local decisions.
Mandates use of this metric for all official noise maps and compatibility programs affecting nearby communities,. so that future airport expansions, flight path changes, or mitigation efforts must use consistent, health-based data, potentially increasing transparency and community trust.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Standardize Airport Noise Studies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.266
- Referred to health
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Standardize Airport Noise Measurement
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Ron Kim
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6676
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
August 28, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to airport noise studies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 13 of the public health law is amended by adding a new title 14 to read as follows:
TITLE XIV
AIRPORT NOISE STUDIES Section 1389-hh. Legislative findings and purposes.
1389-ii. Definitions.
1389-jj. Airport noise studies.
§ 1389-hh. Legislative findings and purposes. 1. The legislature hereby finds, determines, and declares that noise pollution causes a variety of adverse human health impacts, many of which are related to noise induced stress including hearing loss, hypertension, tachycardia, increased cortisol release, sleep disruption, and cognitive impairment.
2. The legislature further finds and recognizes that the federal environmental protection agency and the World Health Organization have recommended a fifty-five day-night average sound level (DNL) noise exposure level to protect the public from adverse human health impacts.
3. The legislature further finds and recognizes that the federal aviation administration accepts as a metric for determining noise impacts the community noise equivalent level (CNEL).
4. The legislature further finds that the community noise equivalent level (CNEL) includes a penalty for increased sensitivity to noise occurring during evening hours which are set aside for family and student study time.
5. For these purposes, there shall be established a uniform metric for measuring noise impacts that will be used by airports in New York state
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03974-01-9
S. 6676 2
for the purpose of noise exposure maps (NEMs) and noise compatibility programs (NCPs).
§ 1389-ii. Definitions. For the purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:
1. "Community noise equivalent level" (CNEL) means, in decibels, the average daytime noise level during a twenty-four hour period, adjusted to account for the lower tolerance of noise during evening and nighttime periods in relation to daytime periods.
2. "Hourly noise level daytime" (HNLD) means, in decibels, the hourly noise levels for the hours of 0700-1900.
3. "Hourly noise level evening" (HNLE) means, in decibels, the hourly noise levels for the hours of 1900-2200.
4. "Hourly noise level nighttime" (HNLN) means, in decibels, the hourly noise levels for the hours of 2200-0700.
§ 1389-jj. Airport noise studies. 1. For the purpose of airport noise studies, all contour maps shall be completed using the community noise equivalent level. This shall include, but shall not be limited to, federal aviation regulation part one hundred fifty studies, airport noise exposure maps (NEMs), and airport noise compatibility programs (NCPs).
2. The community noise equivalent level (CNEL) shall be calculated by the following: CNEL = 10 log (1/24) ({sigma} antilog (HNLD/10) + 3 {sigma} antilog (HNLE/10) + 10 {sigma} antilog (HNLN/10)).
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to airport noise studies
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill seeks to address the problems encountered with excessive noise pollution due to air traffic from NY airports, predominantly during the evening hours when most residents and families are home. This bill will establish a uniform metric (CNEL) to measure the total impact of air traffic noise in an effort to decrease noise pollution and its detri- mental effects.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the public health law by adding a new title 14 to establish the use of the community noise equivalent level (CNEL) as a uniform metric for measuring noise impacts. The CNEL includes a penalty for increased noise sensitivities during evening hours for airports in New York State.
Section 2 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Noise pollution is linked to multiple health complications including hearing loss, hypertension, tachycardia, increased cortisol release, sleep disruption, and cognitive impairment. The adoption of the CNEL as a metric for measuring noise impact holds New York airports responsible for excessive noise pollution, which can be especially disruptive during evening hours.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.