---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4914"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4914"
heading: "Development of low-noise-emission products"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4914"
units:
  - "Chapter 65 — Noise Control"
---

# §4914. Development of low-noise-emission products

- (a) **Definitions—** For the purpose of this section:
  - (1) The term “Committee” means the Low-Noise-Emission [Product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) [Advisory Committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2).
  - (2) The term “Federal Government” includes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government of the United States, and the government of the District of Columbia.
  - (3) The term “low-noise-emission [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3)” means any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) which emits noise in amounts significantly below the levels specified in noise emission standards under regulations applicable under [section 4905 of this title](/usc/42/4905.md) at the time of procurement to that type of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3).
  - (4) The term “retail price” means (A) the maximum statutory price applicable to any type of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3); or (B) in any case where there is no applicable maximum statutory price, the most recent procurement price paid for any type of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3).
- (b) **Certification of products; Low-Noise-Emission Product Advisory Committee—**
  - (1) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall determine which [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) qualify as low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) in accordance with the provisions of this section.
  - (2) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall certify any [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3)—
    - (A) for which a certification application has been filed in accordance with paragraph (5)(A) of this subsection;
    - (B) which is a low-noise-emission [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) as determined by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1); and
    - (C) which he determines is suitable for use as a substitute for a type of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) at that time in use by [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) of the Federal Government.
  - (3) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) may establish a Low-Noise-Emission [Product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) [Advisory Committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) to assist him in determining which [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) qualify as low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) for purposes of this section. The Committee shall include the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) or his designee, a representative of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and representatives of such other [Federal agencies](/usc/42/4902.md?p=10) and private individuals as the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) may deem necessary from time to time. Any member of the Committee not employed on a full-time basis by the United States may receive the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for Grade GS–18 of the General Schedule for each day such member is engaged upon work of the Committee. Each member of the Committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence as authorized by [section 5703 of title 5](/usc/5/5703.md) for [persons](/usc/42/4902.md?p=2) in the Government service employed intermittently.
  - (4) Certification under this section shall be effective for a period of one year from the date of issuance.
  - (5)
    - (A) Any [person](/usc/42/4902.md?p=2) seeking to have a class or model of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) certified under this section shall file a certification application in accordance with regulations prescribed by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1).
    - (B) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of each application received.
    - (C) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall make determinations for the purpose of this section in accordance with procedures prescribed by him by regulation.
    - (D) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall conduct whatever investigation is necessary, including actual inspection of the [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) at a place designated in regulations prescribed under [subparagraph (A)](#b-5-A).
    - (E) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall receive and evaluate written comments and documents from interested [persons](/usc/42/4902.md?p=2) in support of, or in opposition to, certification of the class or model of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) under consideration.
    - (F) Within ninety days after the receipt of a properly filed certification application the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall determine whether such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) is a low-noise-emission [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) for purposes of this section. If the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) determines that such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) is a low-noise-emission [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), then within one hundred and eighty days of such determination the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall reach a decision as to whether such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) is a suitable substitute for any class or classes of [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) presently being purchased by the Federal Government for use by its [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
    - (G) Immediately upon making any determination or decision under [subparagraph (F)](#b-5-F), the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall publish in the Federal Register notice of such determination or decision, including reasons therefor.
- (c) **Federal procurement of low-noise-emission products—**
  - (1) Certified low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) shall be acquired by purchase or lease by the Federal Government for use by the Federal Government in lieu of other [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) if the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) of General Services determines that such certified [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) have procurement costs which are no more than 125 per centum of the retail price of the least expensive type of [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) for which they are certified substitutes.
  - (2) Data relied upon by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) in determining that a [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) is a certified low-noise-emission [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) shall be incorporated in any contract for the procurement of such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3).
- (d) **Product selection—** The procuring [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall be required to purchase available certified low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) which are eligible for purchase to the extent they are available before purchasing any other [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) for which any low-noise-emission [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) is a certified substitute. In making purchasing selections between competing eligible certified low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3), the procuring [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall give priority to any class or model which does not require extensive periodic maintenance to retain its low-noise-emission qualities or which does not involve operating costs significantly in excess of those [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) for which it is a certified substitute.
- (e) **Waiver of statutory price limitations—** For the purpose of procuring certified low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) any statutory price limitations shall be waived.
- (f) **Tests of noise emissions from products purchased by Federal Government—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall, from time to time as he deems appropriate, test the emissions of noise from certified low-noise-emission [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) purchased by the Federal Government. If at any time he finds that the noise-emission levels exceed the levels on which certification under this section was based, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall give the supplier of such [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) written notice of this finding, issue public notice of it, and give the supplier an opportunity to make necessary repairs, adjustments, or replacements. If no such repairs, adjustments, or replacements are made within a period to be set by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1), he may order the supplier to show cause why the [product](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) involved should be eligible for recertification.
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated for paying additional amounts for [products](/usc/42/4902.md?p=3) pursuant to, and for carrying out the provisions of, this section, $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and $2,000,000 for each of the two succeeding fiscal years, $2,200,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $550,000 for the transition period of July 1, 1976, through September 30, 1976, and $2,420,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977.
- (h) **Promulgation of procedures—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4902.md?p=1) shall promulgate the procedures required to implement this section within one hundred and eighty days after October 27, 1972.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–574, § 15, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1245; Pub. L. 94–301, § 1, May 31, 1976, 90 Stat. 590; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–418 substituted “National Institute of Standards and Technology” for “National Bureau of Standards”.

1976—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 94–301 inserted authorization of appropriations for fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, the transition period, and fiscal year ending September 30, 1977.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination of Advisory Committees

Advisory committees in existence on Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period following Jan. 5, 1973, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. A committee established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of its establishment unless in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the end of such period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.