Date:  23-May-97 21:14 PDT
From:  Gerald A. Silver > INTERNET:gsilver@sprintmail.com
Subj:  SUPPORT FOR HR 536

 
 The following letter should be of interest to those groups and
 individuals who are suffering from airport noise. Please write
 a similar letter to Representative Duncan, and a copy to your
 local Congressman:
 
 ***********************************************************************
 
                           STOP THE NOISE! COALITION
                      NATIONAL HELICOPTER NOISE COALITION
                       P.O. BOX 260205, ENCINO, CA 91426
                         email: gsilver@sprintmail.com
 
 May 4, 199
 
 U. S. Representative John Duncan
 Chair, House Sub Committee on Aviation
 Attn. Jim Coon
 2251 RHOB
 Washington, DC 20515
 
 RE: SUPPORT FOR HR 536 - QUIET COMMUNITIES ACT OF 1997
 
 Millions Americans suffer from hearing loss and  noise  exposure  from
 noisy jet and helicopter operations.  Noise-induced  hearing  loss  is
 preventable, but, unfortunately, not  repairable.  Larger  numbers  of
 Americans suffer from the stress of aircraft noise  pollution,  includ
 ing lack of proper rest, loss of productivity and inability  to  enjoy
 one's environment. The FAA has done a  poor  job  in  addressing  this
 significant environmental problem.
 
 The United States government, started to  address  this  situation  by
 establishing the Office of Noise Abatement and Control  in  1970.  Two
 years later, Congress passed the Noise Control Act  of  1972  and,  in
 1978, passed the Quiet Communities Act. It seemed that we would  begin
 examining the extent of noise pollution in our modern  society,  when,
 in the early 1980's, the Office  of  Noise  Abatement  &  Control  was
 closed, ostensibly for budgetary reasons.    
 
 I urge you to pass the "Quiet Communities Act of 1997" (Bill  HR  536)
 which will reignite the  Environmental  Protection  Agency's  role  in
 noise abatement, noise research and education on noise pollution. This 
 bill will allocate funds to reopen the Environmental  Protection  Agen
 cy's Office of Noise Abatement & Control so that proper attention  may
 be given to this insidious, invisible pollution problem.  
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Gerald A. Silver
 President Stop the Noise Coalition
           National Helicopter Noise Coalition