National Academies Press: OpenBook

Protecting National Park Soundscapes (2013)

Chapter: Front Matter

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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Protecting
National Park
Soundscapes

National Academy of Engineering

in cooperation with the
National Park Service and the
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Proctor Reid and Steve Olson, Rapporteurs

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.

www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS    500 Fifth Street, NW   Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: This publication has been reviewed according to procedures approved by the National Academy of Engineering report review process. Publication of signed work signifies that it is judged a competent and useful contribution worthy of public consideration, but it does not imply endorsement of conclusions or recommendations by the National Academy of Engineering. The interpretations and conclusions in such publications are those of the authors and do not purport to present the views of the council, officers, or staff of the National Academy of Engineering.

This project was supported by funding from the US Department of Transportation. Any opinions, finding, or conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the workshop participants.

International Standard Book Number 13: 978-0-309-28542-1
International Standard Book Number 10: 0-309-28542-9

Copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (888) 624-8373 or (202) 334-3313; www.nap.edu.

For more information about the National Academy of Engineering, visit the NAE home page at www.nae.edu.

Copyright 2013 by the National Academies. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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WORKSHOP STEERING COMMITTEE

GREGG G. FLEMING, Chair, Director, Environmental and Energy Systems Technical Center, Volpe Center, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, US Department of Transportation

WILLIAM W. LANG, NAE, President, Noise Control Foundation

CYNTHIA S.Y. LEE, Electronics Engineer, Volpe Center, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, US Department of Transportation

GEORGE C. MALING JR., NAE, Managing Director, Emeritus, Institute of Noise Control Engineering

NICHOLAS MILLER, Project Manager and Past President, Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.

FRANK TURINA, Policy, Planning, and Compliance Program Manager, Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, National Park Service

ERIC J.W. WOOD, Director, Noise and Vibration Group, Acentech Inc.

National Academy of Engineering Staff

PROCTOR P. REID, Director, Program Office

STEVE OLSON, Consultant

CAMERON H. FLETCHER, Senior Editor

PENELOPE GIBBS, Senior Program Associate

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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Preface

This summary is based on a workshop hosted by the National Park Service (NPS) in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 3–4, 2012. After review of the Technology for a Quieter America report by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), published in October 2010, the NPS concluded that the NAE could assist the NPS in refining portions of its national noise program. This workshop summary was prepared by rapporteurs Steve Olson and Proctor Reid. A steering committee developed the program for the workshop following NAE procedures for the organization of workshops and subsequent publication of the results.

This report discusses NPS mandates to protect the soundscape in its 400-plus properties. Empowered by these mandates, NPS has a long history of actively managing noise in its properties and has taken actions, both administrative and legal, to protect soundscapes. Noise sources of concern include those related to transportation, maintenance, and construction. NPS also has a long history of studying the effects of noise on park visitors and wildlife. This work is ongoing and is vital to best understand how to protect park soundscapes.

This workshop and resulting summary focus on noise sources wholly under NPS control (e.g., facilities management, transportation within the park, and construction). The aim was to provide best practices to assist NPS park managers, contractors, and concessionaires in protecting park soundscapes. It is essential that parks have flexibility in the application of best practices and that each park be able to develop programs appropriate for its own circumstances. In some areas, such as procurement of quiet products, the steering committee recognized that best practices could leverage the experience of other government agencies, and that is

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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why considerable attention was paid to the Buy-Quiet program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Workshop participants represented a broad array of expertise and included both park personnel and noise control specialists.

It is expected that there will be a continuing dialogue between workshop participants and related stakeholders, and it is hoped that novel solutions will be identified to help improve park soundscapes.

Gregg G. Fleming George C. Maling Jr.
Volpe National Transportation Institute of Noise Control
Systems Center Engineering (ret.)
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academy of Engineering. 2013. Protecting National Park Soundscapes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/18336.
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Acknowledgments

This summary has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Academies. The purpose of the independent review is to provide candid and critical comments to assist the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

James E. Barger, Raytheon BBN Technologies

Paul R. Donovan, Illingworth & Rodkin Inc.

Lawrence S. Finegold, Finegold & So, Environmental Noise Consultants

Richard H. Lyon, RH Lyon Corp.

Nicholas Miller, Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.

Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the views expressed in the report, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Lance Davis, NAE Executive Officer. Appointed by NAE, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authors and NAE.

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America's national parks provide a wealth of experiences to millions of people every year. What visitors see—landscapes, wildlife, cultural activities—often lingers in memory for life. And what they hear adds a dimension that sight alone cannot provide. Natural sounds can dramatically enhance visitors' experience of many aspects of park environments. In some settings, such as the expanses of Yellowstone National Park, they can even be the best way to enjoy wildlife, because animals can be heard at much greater distances than they can be seen. Sounds can also be a natural complement to natural scenes, whether the rush of water over a rocky streambed or a ranger's explanation of a park's history. In other settings, such as the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, sounds are the main reason for visiting a park.

The acoustical environment is also important to the well-being of the parks themselves. Many species of wildlife depend on their hearing to find prey or avoid predators. If they cannot hear, their survival is jeopardized—and the parks where they live may in turn lose part of their natural heritage. For all these reasons it is important to be aware of noise (defined as unwanted sound, and in this case usually generated by humans or machinery), which can degrade the acoustical environment, or soundscape, of parks. Just as smog smudges the visual horizon, noise obscures the listening horizon for both visitors and wildlife. This is especially true in places, such as remote wilderness areas, where extremely low sound levels are common. The National Park Service (NPS) has determined that park facilities, operations, and maintenance activities produce a substantial portion of noise in national parks and thus recognizes the need to provide park managers with guidance for protecting the natural soundscape from such noise. Therefore, the focus of the workshop was to define what park managers can do to control noise from facilities, operations, and maintenance, and not on issues such as the effects of noise on wildlife, noise metrics, and related topics.

To aid in this effort, NPS joined with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and with the US Department of Transportation's John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to hold a workshop to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the nation's array of parks. Entitled "Protecting National Park Soundscapes: Best Available Technologies and Practices for Reducing Park- Generated Noise," the workshop took place October 3-4, 2012, at NPS's Natural Resource Program Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. Protecting National Park Soundscapes is a summary of the workshop.

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