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Consultation on proposals for transposition and implementation of Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This consultation document, supported by a partial Regulatory Impact Assessment, seeks views from all stakeholders with an interest in environmental noise issues on proposals to transpose and implement Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise (also known as The Environmental Noise Directive (END)).

1.2. The aim of the END (the text of which can be found at Annex A) is to define a common approach across the European Union with the intention of avoiding, preventing or reducing on a prioritised basis the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to exposure to environmental noise. This will involve:

• informing the public about environmental noise and its effects;
• the preparation of strategic noise maps for: large urban areas (referred to as 'agglomerations' in the END and in this document), major roads, major railways and major airports as defined in the END; and
• preparing action plans based on the results of the noise mapping exercise. Such plans will aim to manage and reduce environmental noise where necessary, and preserve environmental noise quality where it is good.

1.3. The noise mapping and action planning process is to be taken forward on a five-yearly rolling programme. The first round of mapping and action planning applies to the largest of the agglomerations (including the industries and ports within them), the busiest major roads and railways and all major airports. Maps must be produced by 30 June 2007, with the action plans following a year later in 2008. During the second round (2012-13) all agglomerations, major roads, major railways and major airports as defined by the END will be mapped and then action plans will be developed for them.

This consultation document seeks your views on how we propose to transpose and implement this Directive.

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