Noise assessment program in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Abstract

As part of the EPA Quiet Communities Program, the City of Allentown, Pennsylvania, administered a comprehensive noise assessment study to define the scope of their noise problems in development of a noise control program. This assessment effort is the first field test of the methodologies developed by EPA, for uniform application by interested communities in the evaluation of their noise problems, identification of noise control needs, and understanding of the public's reaction to the noise environment and their support for local noise initiatives. Emphasis is placed upon local administration using available local manpower. The assessment program consisted of manual monitoring in over 100 site locations, a social survey of over 500 households, and the integrated analysis of the respondent population to their specific noise environments. The methodological designs of these survey assessment techniques, the resulting findings, and the proposed application of the results in development of responsive local noise control strategies for the City of Allentown will be discussed.