Photo by Duncan C
By Mike Molesevich, Otzinatchen Group
A neglected, unreported, and unenforced environmental issue in Pennsylvania is noise. Noise is a form of air pollution that affects our quality of life, health, productivity, and general welfare. Noise also affects wildlife – from mating birds to fish and mammals under the sea.
Our lives are regularly interrupted by obnoxiously loud and illegal ‘aftermarket’ or ‘enhanced’ mufflers and exhaust systems on cars, trucks and motorcycles. Companies manufacture and sell products for the sole purpose of making vehicles louder. Internet videos give advice on how to modify mufflers to make them LOUDER.
We hear them anywhere or anytime. Illegal exhaust noise interrupts our reading, outdoor summer picnics, leisure, sleep, visits to state parks and forests, time on the back porch or in the yard, or dining or drinking at a sidewalk café.
Excessive vehicle exhaust noise does not discriminate. It affects everyone – similar to second hand tobacco smoke.
In the past, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) coordinated all federal noise control activities through its Office of Noise Abatement and Control. The EPA phased out the funding in 1982 and transferred primary responsibility for regulating noise to state and local governments that resulted in no enforcement.
Regulations mostly address stationary sources of noise such as airport expansion or natural gas compressor stations, but there are many more non-stationary sources (vehicles, leaf blowers etc.) of noise that are not being addressed that affect more citizens statewide.
The Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code clearly states that, “The exhaust system of a vehicle may not be modified in a manner which will amplify or increase noise emitted by the motor of a vehicle.”
Ask an elected official or law enforcement officer why are there so many more loud vehicles driving around Pennsylvania? The excuses vary:
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low priority
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vehicle needs to be moving
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vehicle needs to be stopped
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they don’t have the equipment
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regulations are too complicated
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other law enforcement departments don’t enforce it so why should we?
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and the classic - there’s nothing we can do.
Law enforcement and elected officials swore an oath to the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitution that includes the Environmental Rights Amendment, which states that Pennsylvania residents have a right to clean water and air, which includes the absence of noise.
According to Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet, “noise pollution caused by loud vehicles and motorcycles is a serious environmental and community problem. Loud unnecessary noise is a serious public health and safety problem. It is related to hearing loss, ringing of the ears, sleep deprivation, and heart disease. Loud unnecessary vehicular exhaust noise also distracts other motorists and pedestrians increasing risks to others.”
Louder equals more pollutant emissions. When motor vehicle exhaust systems are modified to make them louder, catalytic converters are removed or altered, increasing other vehicle emissions such as nitrous and sulfur oxides, particulates and volatile organic compounds.
If you can ‘hear’ loud exhaust, it is likely in violation of the PA MV Code.
There is also an economic cost to excessive unnecessary vehicle noise as Pennsylvania businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, wineries, micro-breweries transition to outdoor seating along sidewalks, patios, and decks due to COVID-19 restrictions. Noise interrupts workers, which affects economic productivity.
Quieter venues, communities and downtowns in Pennsylvania without loud vehicle exhausts will be more enjoyable and pleasant for patrons and staff and therefore more profitable for owners and employees with more tax revenue for municipalities.
Pennsylvania state parks and state forests should adopt designated “Quiet Zones” that prohibit vehicles with excessively loud exhausts. “Quiet Zones” will be good for people and wildlife and especially endangered species that need to hear their calling mates for reproduction and survival.
As far as I know, there are no environmental groups, law agencies, or citizens advisory groups advocating for less noise in Pennsylvania, but Noisefree.org is a good place to start for less noise and more quiet.
Pennsylvanians have a right to clean air and less noise pollution. Sierra Club and other Pennsylvania environmental groups have more work to do.
Mike Molesevich is an environmental consultant with over 30 years’ experience, a co-founder of the Otzinachson Group and its first chair.
This blog was included as part of the 2021 Winter Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!