# Office of Noise Abatement and Control

> U.S. EPA office to control noise pollution, hobbled by Reagan administration

**Wikidata**: [Q136928909](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136928909)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/office-of-noise-abatement-and-control

## Summary
The Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC) is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) government agency dedicated to the control of noise pollution. Established to address environmental noise, the office's operations were notably hindered by actions taken during the Reagan administration.

## Key Facts
- Classified as a government agency, specifically an organizational part of a government responsible for specific public services.
- Operates as an office within the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Primary usage is for noise abatement.
- Governing regulatory texts include the Noise Control Act and the Clean Air Act.
- Known by the aliases ONAC, Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC), and United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC).
- The office was significantly hobbled by the Reagan administration, according to its Wikidata description.

## FAQs
**What is the primary function of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control?**
The office is tasked with controlling noise pollution through the practice of noise abatement.

**Which laws authorize the Office of Noise Abatement and Control?**
The office operates under the main regulatory texts of the Noise Control Act and the Clean Air Act.

**Is the Office of Noise Abatement and Control a standalone entity?**
No, it is a government agency that functions as an organizational part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**How did the Reagan administration affect the Office of Noise Abatement and Control?**
The office was reportedly "hobbled" by the Reagan administration, which limited its effectiveness or operations.

## Why It Matters
The Office of Noise Abatement and Control is significant because it represents the federal government's structured approach to mitigating environmental noise, a public health and welfare concern. By enforcing the Noise Control Act and the Clean Air Act, the office aimed to regulate a specific type of pollution that impacts communities. Its history, particularly the reduction of its capabilities during the Reagan administration, highlights the political vulnerability of specialized regulatory agencies.

## Notable For
- Being the specific EPA office designated for noise pollution control.
- Having its effectiveness curtailed during the Reagan administration.
- Operating under the dual authority of the Noise Control Act and the Clean Air Act.

## Body

### Organizational Classification
The Office of Noise Abatement and Control is defined as a government agency. In this context, a government agency is an organizational part of a government responsible for specific public services, such as health, judiciary, education, transportation, or foreign affairs. This classification places ONAC within the broader bureaucratic structure designed to manage public welfare and environmental standards.

### Parent Organization and Structure
The office is a subsidiary body of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The parent organization is identified by the Wikidata ID Q460173. This relationship is documented across multiple references, including the Encyclopedia of the Environment, the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, and official EPA historical records. Within this structure, the entity is referred to by several aliases, including ONAC, Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC), and the full designation United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC).

### Regulatory Authority
The operations of the office are guided by main regulatory texts, specifically the Noise Control Act and the Clean Air Act. These laws provide the legal framework necessary for the agency to implement noise abatement measures. The use of the office is explicitly defined as "noise abatement," aligning its daily activities with the mandates set forth by these legislative acts.

### Political Context and History
Historical documentation and descriptions of the office note that it was "hobbled by Reagan administration." This detail suggests a specific period of political intervention or funding reduction that impacted the agency's ability to function. The connection between the office's history and the Reagan era is a defining characteristic of its operational timeline, as reflected in its Wikidata description and referenced historical sources.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/educational-magazines/noise-control-act-1972)
2. [Source](https://www.nonoise.org/library/shapiro/shapiro.htm)
3. [EPA History: Noise and the Noise Control Act | US EPA](https://www.epa.gov/history/epa-history-noise-and-noise-control-act)
4. [Clean Air Act Title IV - Noise Pollution](https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-title-iv-noise-pollution)