Int. No. 829
By Council Members Chin and Koslowitz
Title
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to city-wide ambient noise level monitoring
Body
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The Council finds that noise pollution is widely prevalent in urban areas. Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution in urban areas but construction of buildings, highways, and streets also cause significant noise, due to the usage of air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, jackhammers and pavement breakers. Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable state of noise pollution. Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the existing noise pollution.
The Council further finds that noise pollution is associated with a variety of adverse health impacts including hearing loss, elevated blood pressure, sleep loss, increased heart rates, and cardiovascular constriction and labored breathing. These health effects can lead to social handicap, decreased performance in learning, absenteeism in the workplace and school and accidents. The Council finds that children are more vulnerable to noise than adults because they spend more time in bed and might be also exposed to night noise. Similarly, the chronically ill and elderly are more sensitive to disturbance.
Accordingly the Council finds that it is in the best interests of New York City to require that the Department of Environmental Protection collect data on ambient noise levels throughout the city and make such data on noise pollution available annually.
? 2. Section 24-232 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to add a new subdivision 232.1 as follows:
24-232.1 a. Citywide ambient noise level monitoring. The department shall install sound level meters or dosimeters at major intersections thr...
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