Considerations in Regulating Anthropogenic Noise in Wilderness Areas, State and National Parks and Forests

Abstract

Is anthropogenic noise (i.e. from mining or industrial activities) heard in "natural settings" such as wilderness areas, national parks, state or national forests, from activities outside the boundaries of those designated areas, a problem? Congress established a goal of protecting the natural wilderness character of wilderness-designated lands in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The National Park Service Director's Order #47 (2000) established operational policies that require, to the fullest extent practicable, the protection, maintenance, or restoration of the natural soundscape resource in a condition unimpaired by inappropriate or excessive noise sources. So does that mean that anthropogenic noise from outside the boundaries of these types of designated areas is an impact by virtue of its nature? This paper explores that topic and answers that question in an attempt to provide clarity for future evaluations of environmental noise in wilderness areas, state, and national parks, and state and national forests.