Noise In The News: Weekly Round-Up

by Quiet Communities Staff

Photo credit: Andrea Piacquadio

Samsung Health update to offer hearing health warnings

The newest version of Samsung Health will include new hearing-health focused features. With user-set noise limits, weekly decibel averages and warnings when audio is being played too loud, the update allows users to monitor noise and better protect their ears.

Oregon protestors can’t be arrested for noise

An Oregon federal judge ruled this week that for now, the Trump Administration cannot enforce a new noise regulation. Last month, this noise prohibition criminalizing loud or unusual noises on federal property was expanded to include areas outside federal property. The order followed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ threats to arrest protestors outside an ICE detention facility in Eugene, Oregon.

Counties fight FAA approval of airport expansion

Three Washington cities are fighting the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of an expansion plan at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to KOMO News. The plan includes a new terminal, 19 additional gates and taxiway expansions with the goal to increase the airport’s capacity to 56 million annual passengers.

The FAA found the expansion would increase noise pollution, in part by expanding the area inside a 65-decibel noise contour to add hundreds of additional homes to the zone by 2037. In a petition to a federal judge seeking to overturn FAA approval, residents said the agency signed off on the project despite serious impacts on surrounding communities.