---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4905"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4905"
heading: "Noise emission standards for products distributed in commerce"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4905"
units:
  - "Chapter 65 — Noise Control"
---

# §4905. Noise emission standards for products distributed in commerce

- (a) **Proposed regulations—**
  - (1) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall publish proposed regulations, meeting the requirements of [subsection (c)](#c), for each [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3)—
    - (A) which is identified (or is part of a class identified) in any report published under [section 4904(b)(1) of this title](/usc/42/4904.md) as a major source of noise,
    - (B) for which, in his judgment, noise emission standards are feasible, and
    - (C) which falls in one of the following categories:
      - (i) [Construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) equipment.
      - (ii) Transportation equipment (including recreational vehicles and related equipment).
      - (iii) Any motor or engine (including any equipment of which an engine or motor is an integral part).
      - (iv) Electrical or electronic equipment.
  - (2)
    - (A) Initial proposed regulations under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall be published not later than eighteen months after October 27, 1972, and shall apply to any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) which is identified (or is a part of a class identified) as a major source of noise in any report published under [section 4904(b)(1) of this title](/usc/42/4904.md) on or before the date of publication of such initial proposed regulations.
    - (B) In the case of any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) which is identified (or is part of a class identified) as a major source of noise in a report published under [section 4904(b)(1) of this title](/usc/42/4904.md) after publication of the initial proposed regulations under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, regulations under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) for such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) shall be proposed and published by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) not later than eighteen months after such report is published.
  - (3) After proposed regulations respecting a [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) have been published under [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall, unless in his judgment noise emission standards are not feasible for such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), prescribe regulations, meeting the requirements of [subsection (c)](#c), for such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3)—
    - (A) not earlier than six months after publication of such proposed regulations, and
    - (B) not later than—
      - (i) twenty-four months after October 27, 1972, in the case of a [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) subject to proposed regulations published under [paragraph (2)(A)](#a-2-A), or
      - (ii) in the case of any other [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), twenty-four months after the publication of the report under [section 4904(b)(1) of this title](/usc/42/4904.md) identifying it (or a class of [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) of which it is a part) as a major source of noise.
- (b) **Authority to publish regulations not otherwise required—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) may publish proposed regulations, meeting the requirements of [subsection (c)](#c), for any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) for which he is not required by [subsection (a)](#a) to prescribe regulations but for which, in his judgment, noise emission standards are feasible and are requisite to protect the public health and welfare. Not earlier than six months after the date of publication of such proposed regulations respecting such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), he may prescribe regulations, meeting the requirements of [subsection (c)](#c), for such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3).
- (c) **Contents of regulations; appropriate consideration of other standards; participation by interested persons; revision—**
  - (1) Any regulation prescribed under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) of this section (and any revision thereof) respecting a [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) shall include a noise emission standard which shall set limits on noise emissions from such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) and shall be a standard which in the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1)’s judgment, based on criteria published under [section 4904 of this title](/usc/42/4904.md), is requisite to protect the public health and welfare, taking into account the magnitude and conditions of use of such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) (alone or in combination with other noise sources), the degree of noise reduction achievable through the application of the best available technology, and the cost of compliance. In establishing such a standard for any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall give appropriate consideration to standards under other laws designed to safeguard the health and welfare of [persons](/usc/42/4902.md?p=2), including any standards under [chapter 301](/usc/49/chstVI/ptA/ch301.md) of title 49, the Clean Air Act [[42 U.S.C. 7401](/usc/42/7401.md) et seq.], and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act [[33 U.S.C. 1251](/usc/33/1251.md) et seq.]. Any such noise emission standards shall be a performance standard. In addition, any regulation under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) (and any revision thereof) may contain testing procedures necessary to assure compliance with the emission standard in such regulation, and may contain provisions respecting instructions of the [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) for the maintenance, use, or repair of the [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3).
  - (2) After publication of any proposed regulations under this section, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall allow interested [persons](/usc/42/4902.md?p=2) an opportunity to participate in rulemaking in accordance with the first sentence of [section 553(c) of title 5](/usc/5/553.md?p=c).
  - (3) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) may revise any regulation prescribed by him under this section by (A) publication of proposed revised regulations, and (B) the promulgation, not earlier than six months after the date of such publication, of regulations making the revision; except that a revision which makes only technical or clerical corrections in a regulation under this section may be promulgated earlier than six months after such date if the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) finds that such earlier promulgation is in the public interest.
- (d) **Warranty by manufacturer of conformity of product with regulations; transfer of cost obligation from manufacturer to dealer prohibited—**
  - (1) On and after the effective date of any regulation prescribed under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) of this section, the [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) of each [new product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=5) to which such regulation applies shall warrant to the [ultimate purchaser](/usc/42/4902.md?p=4) and each subsequent purchaser that such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) is designed, built, and equipped so as to conform at the time of sale with such regulation.
  - (2) Any cost obligation of any dealer incurred as a result of any requirement imposed by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be borne by the [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6). The transfer of any such cost obligation from a [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) to any dealer through franchise or other agreement is prohibited.
  - (3) If a [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) includes in any advertisement a statement respecting the cost or value of noise emission control devices or systems, such [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) shall set forth in such statement the cost or value attributed to such devices or systems by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Labor (through the Bureau of Labor Statistics). The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Labor, and his representatives, shall have the same access for this purpose to the books, documents, papers, and rec­ords of a [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) as the Comptroller General has to those of a recipient of assistance for purposes of section 311 of the Clean Air Act [[42 U.S.C. 7611](/usc/42/7611.md)].
- (e) **State and local regulations—**
  - (1) No [State](/usc/42/4902.md?p=9) or political subdivision thereof may adopt or enforce—
    - (A) with respect to any [new product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=5) for which a regulation has been prescribed by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) under this section, any law or regulation which sets a limit on noise emissions from such [new product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=5) and which is not identical to such regulation of the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1); or
    - (B) with respect to any component incorporated into such [new product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=5) by the [manufacturer](/usc/42/4902.md?p=6) of such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), any law or regulation setting a limit on noise emissions from such component when so incorporated.
  - (2) Subject to sections [4916](/usc/42/4916.md) and [4917](/usc/42/4917.md) of this title, nothing in this section precludes or denies the right of any [State](/usc/42/4902.md?p=9) or political subdivision thereof to establish and enforce controls on [environmental noise](/usc/42/4902.md?p=11) (or one or more sources thereof) through the licensing, regulation, or restriction of the use, operation, or movement of any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) or combination of [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3).
- (f) **Publication of notice of receipt of revision petitions and proposed revised regulations—** At any time after the promulgation of regulations respecting a [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) under this section, a [State](/usc/42/4902.md?p=9) or political subdivision thereof may petition the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) to revise such standard on the grounds that a more stringent standard under [subsection (c)](#c) of this section is necessary to protect the public health and welfare. The Administration shall publish notice of receipt of such petition in the Federal Register and shall within ninety days of receipt of such petition respond by (1) publication of proposed revised regulations in accordance with [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3) of this section, or (2) publication in the Federal Register of a decision not to publish such proposed revised regulations at that time, together with a detailed explanation for such decision.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–574, § 6, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1237; Pub. L. 95–609, § 5, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3081.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Clean Air Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is act July 14, 1955, ch. 360, 69 Stat. 322, which is classified generally to chapter 85 (§ 7401 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 7401 of this title and Tables.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is act June 30, 1948, ch. 758, as amended generally by Pub. L. 92–500, § 2, Oct. 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 816, which is classified generally to chapter 26 (§ 1251 et seq.) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1251 of Title 33 and Tables.

### Codification

In subsec. (c)(1), “chapter 301 of title 49” substituted for “the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 [15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.]” on authority of Pub. L. 103–272, § 6(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.

### Amendments

1978—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–609 added subsec. (f).