Listening response
EU: Common methodology for noise assessment
The EU wants a new method for calculating noise. Disproportionately short deadline makes it impossible to see the consequences The Commission has issued its proposal for a Council Directive on the establishment of a common methodology for noise assessment. The Ministry of the Environment has sent the proposal for consultation with a disproportionately short deadline of less than 24 hours. Danish Ports notes that the proposal means that Denmark will have to use a different calculation method than the one previously used. It is recommended that "Denmark votes in favor of the Commission's proposal to establish a common methodology for noise assessment". Nevertheless, "Denmark expects to retain the existing method for use in the authorities' planning of residential areas, construction of roads and railways, etc. This may involve a communicative challenge in relation to citizens" Danish Ports agrees with this. But the communicative challenge already starts here: How can it be that Denmark votes for a new method and then still expect to keep the existing method for planning purposes? Danish Ports sees a need for the environmental authorities to become more aware of the consequences of changing the method. Danish Ports does not have the prerequisites to relate to the professional content of the consultation. Therefore, it is also impossible for us to say anything qualified about the consequences, including the significance of changing the method in terms of precision and comparability compared to previous measurements and noise mapping. We cannot assess the extent to which it may have an impact on noise action plans and regulatory requirements, but note that the Danish Environmental Protection Agency is of the opinion that there will be no significant financial or administrative consequences for the business community. What less significant consequences there may be remains to be seen, but an assessment of the consequences in relation to planning could be desirable. Only then can an assessment of the level of protection and planning implications be made. We understand that as a result of an agreement between Local Government Denmark, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, an agreement has been reached on future committee work as a result of Business Forum's proposal 17 on noise rules. It should be considered whether the proposal for a noise directive should be included in this work.