Protecting wildlife from noise impacts: A review of legislation and legal precedents in New England and by the Federal Government

摘要

Noise pollution and its effects on humans is well studied and moderately regulated in the United States. There is also a body of research on noise impacts on wildlife, although this information is not widely dispersed or understood by the general public. In addition to the lack of dissemination of this information, state governments do not typically account for what is known about wildlife impacts when developing noise policy or wildlife law. The federal government has considered noise impacts on wildlife on occasion, but with wildlife being held in the public trust of the individual states and regulated primarily at the state level, it is important for states to take up this practice as well. This paper provides a brief review of some ways in which noise can impact wildlife, a review of how noise impacts on wildlife have been addressed in various legal settings in New England, and a discussion of what the future may hold for wildlife and noise impacts.