Noise reduction

I will introduce a new issue that must be addressed and assigned to the Texas Railroad Commission: Control of Noise. Since the Railroad Commission (RRC) currently regulates oil and gas operations and drilling as well as facilities, pipelines and equipment appurtenant to pipelines, we request the Sunset Review Commission recommend a state noise bill assigning regulation of noise emitted by oil and gas operations and facilities to the RRC. A proposed Noise Bill is included in my attachments.

The Need: Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was tasked by a federal law in 1972 to develop noise control parameters, no one is regulating noise in unincorporated areas of the States because the federal authority was delegated to cities and states in 1982. Only six states picked up that authority. Texas was not one of them. Cities have noise authority within their boundaries. But Low Frequency Noise (LFN) travels five to eight miles and into cities thus affecting city residents as well as people residing in the counties.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition https://etypeservices.com/Teague%20ChronicleID677/