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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE10-19

February 26, 2010

CONTACT:

Michael Saucier/Mercedes Padilla (718) 595-6600

DEP Honored for Construction Noise Mitigation Efforts


Recognized for Developing, Implementing and Overseeing Rule to Address Site Noise



Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway today announced that DEP has been named a recipient of a 2010 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) for the overhaul of the City’s noise code that was completed in 2007. The overhaul established rules to reduce construction noise. The awards honor hearing loss prevention programs in the construction, manufacturing and service sectors. DEP is responsible for enforcing the City’s noise code. The award will be presented at the Annual Hearing Conservation Conference today in Orlando, Florida.

"Improving New Yorkers quality of life has been a top priority for Mayor Bloomberg, and the overhaul of the City’s Noise Code that NIOSH and NHCA are recognizing today is doing that every day," said Commissioner Holloway. "Construction sites are now required to have noise mitigation plans that have significantly reduced their impact on the surrounding community. I want to especially thank all of the hardworking employees in our air and noise unit who helped develop and now enforce the new rules. Clearly, they have made an impact. I would also like to thank the construction industry, building trades and utilities for partnering with the City in this effort."

"This year’s awardees highlight how work-related hearing loss affects people across all industry sectors," said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard. "The impact of partnerships and innovation in developing solutions and policies to address the preventable problem of work-related hearing loss is clear in these initiatives."

The Safe-in-Sound Awards Expert Committee comprises experts in public health, hearing loss prevention, and audiology. It evaluates applicants against performance indicators such as development and adoption of new strategies for hearing loss prevention and reduction in noise levels. The City’s noise code prescribes mitigation strategies to be used on all construction sites. Construction firms are required to have noise mitigation plans in place prior to construction. The City worked with building trades and construction firms in developing the rules for noise plans, which is one of the most innovative regulatory initiatives in the country.

DEP manages the City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8 million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties. New York City’s water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the City.

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