Annexe A: Glossary and List of Acronyms
Action Plan
Plans designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary. An Action Plan must at least include the following elements:
- a description of the agglomeration, the major roads, the major railways or major airports and other noise sources taken into account,
- the authority responsible,
- the legal context,
- any limit values in place in accordance with Article 5 of the END,
- a summary of the results of the noise mapping,
- an evaluation of the estimated number of people exposed to noise, identification of problems and situations that need to be improved,
- a record of the public consultations organised in accordance with Article 8(7) of the END,
- any noise-reduction measures already in force and any projects in preparation,
- actions which the competent authorities intend to take in the next five years, including any measures to preserve quiet areas,
- long-term strategy,
- financial information (if available): budgets, cost-effectiveness assessment, cost-benefit assessment,
- provisions envisaged for evaluating the implementation and the results of the Action Plan.
The actions which the competent authorities intend to take in the fields within their competence may for example include:
- traffic planning,
- land-use planning,
- technical measures at noise sources,
- selection of quieter sources,
- reduction of sound transmission,
- regulatory or economic measures or incentives.
Each Action Plan should contain estimates in terms of the reduction of the number of people affected (annoyed, sleep disturbed, or other).
Agglomeration
A part of a territory, delimited by the Member State, having a population in excess of 100 000 persons and a population density such that the Member State considers it to be an urbanised area. The boundary of an agglomeration was drawn using the 'urban settlement approach' set out in 'Identifying the Options Available for Determining Population Data and Identifying Agglomerations in Connection with EU Proposals Regarding Environmental Noise. The population density exceeds 500 persons per km 2.
Airport (this is covered under major airport - see below)
Competent Authority
The competent authorities will be responsible for aspects such as making and, where relevant, approving noise maps and Action Plans for agglomerations, major roads, major railways and major airports; delimiting quiet areas within agglomerations and open countryside and collecting noise maps and Action Plans. See Section 3.2.
Consolidated Map
A map showing the noise level from airport, road rail, ports and industrial noise combined for the agglomeration areas.
END
European Noise Directive
Limit Values
Member States are required to inform the Commission of existing limit values or limit values in preparation (Article 5, paragraph 4 of the END). They must be expressed in terms of the noise indicators L den and L night. Limit values are defined as meaning 'a value of L den or L night, and where appropriate L day and L evening, as determined by the Competent authority for developing Action Plans Member State, the exceeding of which causes competent authorities to consider or enforce mitigation measures' (Article 3 (s) of the END).
Major Airport
The END defines a major airport as: 'a civil airport, designated by the Member State, which has more than 50,000 movements per year (a movement being a take-off or landing), excluding those purely for training purposes on light aircraft' (Article 3(p)). In the UK a light aircraft is generally considered to be one with a maximum take-off weight authorised ( MTWA) of less than 5,700 kg. In the UK a civil airport is one operated by civil authorities and so excludes those operated by the military. In any event, military activity in a military area is excluded from the END (Article 2, paragraph 2).
Major Road
The END defines a major road as: '[a] regional, national or international road, designated by the Member State, which has more than 3 million vehicle passages per annum' (approximately 8,200 vehicles per day) (Article 3(n)). However, for the first round of mapping the qualifying threshold is 6 million vehicle passages per annum (Article 7, paragraph1).
Major Railways
The END defines a major railway as "[a railway] designated by the Member State which has more than 30,000 train passages per year" (approximately 80 train passages per day) (Article 3(o)). However, for the first round of mapping in 2007 the qualifying figure is 60,000 train passages per annum (Article 7, paragraph 1). The END requires that, no later than 30 June 2005 (and thereafter every five years), Member States shall inform the Commission of the major railways that have more than 60,000 train passages per year (Article 7, paragraph 1).
Noise Mapping
The presentation of data on an existing or predicted noise situation in terms of a noise indicator, indicating breaches of any relevant limit value in force, the number of people affected in a certain area, or the number of dwellings exposed to certain values of a noise indicator in a certain area.
Quiet Area
Article 3(l) and 3(m) of the END defines a 'quiet area in an agglomeration' as an area, delimited by the competent authority, for instance which is not exposed to a value of L den or of another appropriate noise indicator greater than a certain value set by the Member State, from any noise source.
Round One
The noise mapping and Action Planning process is to be taken forward on a five yearly rolling programme. The first round of mapping and Action Planning applies to the largest of the agglomerations (including the industries and ports within them), the busiest major roads and railways and all major airports. The thresholds qualifying which agglomerations, major roads, and major railways should be mapped during the first round are set out in Article 7 paragraph 1 and are as follows:
- Agglomerations - only those which have a population in excess of 250 000 persons;
- Major roads - only those which more than 6 million vehicle passages a year; and
- Major railways - only those that have more than 60 000 train passages per year.
- All airports within round one agglomerations and major airports,
Round Two
- Agglomerations - only those which have a population in excess of 100 000 persons;
- Major roads - only those which more than 3 million vehicle passages a year; and
- Major railways - only those that have more than 30 000 train passages per year.
- All Airports within round one and two agglomerations and major airports