Noise

Reporting on the implementation of the Directive

Data Flow	Summary description of information to be reported to the EC	legally binding deadline to send data to the EC	Updates by MS	END provision
DF1	Major roads, major railways, major airports and agglomerations (for first round of noise mapping in 2007 and action plans in 2008): agglomerations ≥ 250,000 inhab. major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y major roads ≥ 6 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 60,000 trains/y	30 June 2005	Mandatory Every 5 years	Art. 7-1
DF2	Competent bodies for strategic noise maps, action plans and data collection	18 July 2005	Any time	Art. 4-2
DF3	Noise limit values in force or planned and associated information	18 July 2005	Possible At any time	Art. 5-4
DF4	Strategic noise maps pursuant to annex VI (first round) for: agglomerations ≥ 250,000 inhab. major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y major roads ≥ 6 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 60,000 trains/y	30 December 2007	Mandatory Every 5 years	Art. 10-2 Annex VI
DF5	List of major roads, major railways, major airports and agglomerations designated by MS (for second round of noise mapping due in 2012): agglomerations ≥ 100,000 inhab. major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y major roads ≥ 3 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 30,000 trains/y	31 December 2008	Possible At any time	Art. 7-2
DF6	Noise control programmes that have been carried out in the past and noise-measures in place for: agglomerations ≥ 250,000 inhab. major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y major roads ≥ 6 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 60,000 trains/y	18 January 2009	No update	Art. 10-2 Annex VI 1.3 & 2.3
DF7	Action plans pursuant to annex VI (and any criteria used in drawing up action plans) for: agglomerations ≥ 250,000 inhab. major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y major roads ≥ 6 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 60,000 trains/y	18 January 2009	Mandatory Every 5 years	Art. 10-2 Annex VI + Art. 8-3
DF8	Strategic noise maps related data pursuant to annex VI (second round) for: agglomerations ≥ 100,000 inhab. major roads ≥ 3 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 30,000 trains/y major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y	30 December 2012	Mandatory Every 5 years	Art. 10-2 Annex VI
DF9	Noise control programmes enacted prior to the entry into force of the Directive for: agglomerations ≥100,000 & <250,000 inhab. major roads ≥3 million & < 6 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 30,000 & < 60,000 trains/y major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y	18 January 2014	No update	Art. 10-2 Annex VI 1.3 & 2.3
DF10	Action plans pursuant to annex (and other criteria used in drawing up action plans) for: agglomerations ≥100,000 & <250,000 inhab. major roads ≥3 million & < 6 millions veh/y major railways ≥ 30,000 & < 60,000 trains/y major civil airports ≥ 50,000 movts/y	18 January 2014	Mandatory Every 5 years	Art. 10-2 Annex VI + Art. 8-3

Data reporting

The European Environment Agency has finalised the ReportNET system for electronic delivery of environmental noise data using the reporting mechanism. This is designed to support and assist the Member States in fulfilling their reporting requirements in the near future. Guidelines for delivery of noise data to Reportnet are available on the CIRCA website.

The European Commission encourages to use the above mentioned Reportnet system to transmit the information electronically. It should be noted that electronic transmission does not replace, for the time being, the formal notification to the European Commission. Therefore, any delivery to Reportnet should also be accompanied by a letter referring to the electronic transmission sent by the Permanent Representation to the Secretariat General of the Commission.

The reader may find here a table presenting data reporting requirements and corresponding deadlines.

Data reported so far by Member States to the Commission as well as information about the preparation of the electronic reporting mechanism are posted here (click on library).

NOISE is the Noise Observation and Information Service for Europe maintained by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Topic Centre on Land Use and Spatial Information (ETC LUSI) on behalf of the European Commission. It contains data related to strategic noise maps delivered in accordance with European Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise.

Data reported by the Member States is available on the following websites:

Data Flow 4 – Strategic noise maps

For the purpose of monitoring the environmental problem, MS competent authorities are required to ensure that no later than 30 June 2007 strategic noise maps have been made and approved that show the situation in the preceding calendar year (article 7). The Directive defines strategic noise maps as "a map designed for the global assessment of noise exposure in a given area due to different noise sources or for overall predictions for such an area". It furthermore defines minimum criteria for establishing noise maps and the content of the reports to be made available to the Commission and the public (Annex IV of the Directive). These requirements apply again on 30 June 2012 and for each subsequent five-year period. Such noise maps should be made for all major roads, train tracks, airports and agglomerations according to set, and gradually, strengthening scoping criteria.

Strategic noise maps are to be used by the Competent Authorities and the Commission to assess the number of people exposed to noise-related nuisances and sleep-disturbances nationally and across the EU.

To prepare and assess noise maps, Member States are to use noise indicators specified in Annex I of the Directive (article 6).(1) The Directive furthermore contains guidance for establishing the values for these noise indicators (article 5 and Annex II) whilst calling on the Commission to establish mandatory common assessment methods. Until the use of common assessment methods for the determination of noise indicators is made obligatory, existing national noise indicators and related data may be used by Member States for this purpose and should be converted into the indicators mentioned above. These data must not be more than three years old.

Good practice guides for noise mapping

The working group on the assessment of exposure to noise delivered guidance papers to help draw up strategic noise maps:

First position paper on 'Good practice guide on strategic noise mapping' (pdf ~1M) - 2003;
Second position paper on 'Good practice guide on strategic noise mapping' (pdf ~2,7M) - 13 January 2006.
Updated version of the second position paper on good practice guide on strategic noise mapping (pdf ~2,7M) - 13 August 2007
Position paper 'Presenting noise mapping information to the public' - March 2008

Data Flow 6,7 - Noise Control Programmes and Noise Action plans

Member States are required to ensure that their competent authorities have drawn up action plans no later than 18 July 2008 (Article 8) and to report those to the Commission accordingly. Action plans are to be designed for the purpose of managing noise issues and effects for specified roads, rail tracks, airports and agglomerations falling within the scope of the Directive. The Directive furthermore defines minimum criteria for action plans and the content of the reports to be made available to the Commission and the public (Annex V of the Directive) whilst also requiring reviews when a major development occurs affecting the existing noise situation.

These requirements apply again by 18 July 2013 at the latest albeit by then competent authorities should have drawn up action plans to address priorities that were identified in areas exceeding any relevant limit value or by other criteria chosen by the Member States for the agglomerations and for the major roads as well as the major railways within their territories.

Best practises:

GOAL

Forthcoming Data Flows

30 June 2010 - mandatory update of Data Flow 1 which means the "List of major roads, major railways, major airports and major agglomerations".

After 30 June 2010, MS shall report every 5 years a list of infrastructures according to the lower tresholds. Major airports should be included in the lists and should be mapped in 2012 and therafter every 5 years.

The lower tresholds are:

agglomerations > 100 000 inhabitants
major railways > 30 000 trains/y
major roads > 3 million vehicles/y
major airports > 50 000 mov/y

31 December 2012 - Noise maps

(1) The Directive considers for example "day-evening-night equivalent levels" (Lden) and "night equivalent level" (Lnight).