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.