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Rutgers Noise Technical Assistance Center
THE RUTGERS NOISE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE CENTER (RNTAC) is part of the Air and Noise Training Program in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey.
The Rutgers Noise Center has trained
thousands of enforcement officers from all across the United States in sound
level measurement for the purposes of enforcing a municipal noise code. The
certification conferred by our courses, Community Noise Enforcement, and
Vehicular Noise Enforcement are recognized by courts from coast to coast, and
beyond. Our training is
specifically
designed to help officers to become comfortable with the techniques,
strategies and technology of sound level measurement and investigation for
evidentiary purposes.
specifically
designed to help officers to become comfortable with the techniques,
strategies and technology of sound level measurement and investigation for
evidentiary purposes.The RNTAC has been providing noise
assistance for over 35 years. We are the only remaining Noise Technical
Assistance Center originally contracted by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Noise Abatement and Control. Since the closure
of ONAC in the early 1980's, all other regional centers have closed. The RNTAC
continues to serve the country as a reference source on a wide range of noise
pollution issues.
The RNTAC has served as the agent of
training for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for many
years; our certification course is required by law for every noise enforcement
officer in the state. People from all over New Jersey have attended our
courses, as have people from Colorado, Rhode Island, Texas, New York,
Washington State, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Hawaii, Bolivia, etc.,
all of which recognize our certification. Recently, we have presented on-site
courses in the following US jurisdictions: Jacksonville, FL; Ossining,
NY; DeKalb County GA; City of New York; Seattle, WA; State of Massachusetts;
Walton County, FL; and, Anchorage, AK. We've even offered the course
internationally in Vancouver, B.C. and Barbados, West Indies.
As far as we know, we are the only
certification program in the United States.
Aside from training, in the past year alone we have assisted hundreds of individuals, townships, police departments, corporations, health departments, etc. Recently, we've helped the following cities to write and adopt noise ordinances:
Fort Lauderdale, FL, New York City, and Juneau, AK.. We have assisted people from Idaho to Canada to New Zealand.
Eric Zwerling, Director of the RNTAC
is widely published in the field, including: "Regulation of Amplified
Sound Sources," "Turning Down the Volume: Effective Strategies for
Community Noise Enforcement," "Community Noise Enforcement:
Reviving a Moribund Program or Developing One Anew," and "Local
Noise Enforcement Options and Model Noise Ordinance With Pre-Approved language
for the State of New Jersey." These papers have helped impacted
communities to understand that sound level measurement for enforcement
purposes is as mature and admissible as breathalyzer and radar.
Mr. Zwerling has delivered numerous
invited papers and presentations, most recently, "Noise Primer For Legal
Professionals," at the New York State Bar Association Environmental
Law Section Fall Meeting (2007), and "Environmental Health and Noise:
Issues and Answers," at the New Jersey Environmental Health Association
Annual Public Health Conference (2008). He has spoken at conferences
including: American Association of Code Enforcement; Acoustical Society of
America, New York State Association of Towns; Institute of Noise Control
Engineering, Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys; International
Municipal Lawyers Association, and the Michigan Municipal League. These
presentations have titles such as "Effective Strategies for Community
Noise Enforcement," and "Nuts and Bolts of Writing a Noise
Ordinance."
COURSES
ARE OFFERED QUARTERLY AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.
CUSTOMIZED
ON-SITE COURSES ARE AVAILABLE.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eric M.
Zwerling, M.S., ASA - Director
Rutgers
Noise Technical Assistance Center
Department
of Environmental Sciences
14
College Farm Road New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA PHONE: (848) 932-5782
FAX:
(732) 932-8644
Phone
calls bring the fastest response.
The RNTAC operates within the Rutgers Air and Noise Training Programs
which are under the direction of:
Dr. Barbara J. Turpin, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences
& Air Quality Specialist, Rutgers Cooperative Extension