Filenews 21 July 2022 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Within the autumn months, the Department of Environment is expected in the context of the 4th round of the Strategic Noise Mapping, the completion of the elaboration of strategic noise maps and action plans for the urban complexes of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos with a population of more than 100,000 people, road axes over 3,000,000 movements per year, air transport of more than 50,000 movements per year and industrial facilities. Also, the environmental studies carried out for projects such as roads, railways, airports and industrial facilities, apply these common methods of noise assessment.
With the full harmonization and compliance of the Republic of Cyprus with the European Directives (EU) 2020/367 and (EU) 2021/1226 on environmental noise, the positive outcome of the corresponding letter of formal notice from the European Commission is achieved. In particular, the infringement is expected to be deleted with reference number 2022/0040.
By harmonising the Republic of Cyprus with Commission Directive (EU) 2020/367 of 4 March 2020, Annex III to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council is amended as regards the definition of methods for assessing the harmful effects of environmental noise relating to ischemic heart disease (IHD), significant discomfort (HA), and significant sleep disturbance (HSD). Dose-effect relationships on health in terms of the effects of noise from road, rail and air traffic were developed within the framework of the World Health Organization and other studies such as the Netherlands Institute of Health.
At present, no common method is proposed for assessing the effects for the harmful effects of industrial noise because there is little knowledge available. Cyprus harmonized Annex IV of the Environmental Noise Assessment and Management Laws 2004 to 2019 with the Environmental Noise Assessment and Management (Amendment) Law of 2021 [L.147(I)/2021], which entered into force on December 31, 2021.
With the harmonization of the Republic of Cyprus with the Commission Directive (EU) 2021/1226 of 4 March 2020, the establishment of common noise assessment methods in the EU (CNOSSOS) for the calculation of exposure to different noise levels from road, air and rail traffic and industrial facilities entered into force. In particular, it includes a set of equations and coefficients that should be used to calculate noise levels by determining the noise indicators Lden and Lnight on the façade of buildings. Cyprus harmonized Annex III "EVALUATION METHODS FOR NOISE INDICATORS" with the Environmental Noise Assessment and Management (Amendment) Law of 2022 [Law 66(I)/2022], which entered into force on 4/5/2022 and amends the Environmental Noise Assessment and Management (Amendment) Law of 2019 [L.125(I)/2019].
The law "The Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (Amendment) Law of 2022" was discussed in the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment in the period March - April 2022. In particular, the bill proposes to amend the relevant annex to the Environmental Noise Assessment and Management Law that provides for the assessment methods for the calculation of exposure to different noise levels from road, air and rail traffic and industrial facilities, which are common to all Member States of the European Union and are used for the elaboration of Strategic Noise Maps and Action Plans per lustre.
It is noted that the action plans for the management of the problems and effects of noise in urban agglomerations, after being approved by the Minister of Agriculture, are published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus.
