Due to increasing noise pollution, the European Union issued Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise on June 25, 2002.

Implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive in Mainz

In 2005, the EC Directive on the assessment and management of environmental noise was transposed into national law by amending the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG). According to Section 47 c BImSchG, noise maps for conurbations with more than 100,000 inhabitants must be drawn up by June 30, 2012, and every five years thereafter.

The city of Mainz is the competent authority for drawing up noise maps for the main roads and other major roads running through the city, tram tracks, certain industrial facilities (IED facilities) and the port, as well as the Mainz-Finthen airfield and the university hospital's helipad.

The " ... L_den" noise map represents an average value over the entire 24-hour day ("day - evening - night"), which takes into account the greater disturbance caused by noise at night and in the evening hours by adding 10 dB(A) for the night and 5 dB(A) for the evening. The noise map " ... L_n" represents the ambient noise pollution at night (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.).

The main railway lines are mapped by the Federal Railway Authority (opens in a new tab), while the noise levels at Frankfurt Airport are mapped by the Hessian State Office for Environment and Geology (opens in a new tab).

The EC Directive also contains provisions for the creation of noise action plans (opens in a new tab). The aim is to implement a joint concept for assessing and combating environmental noise in order to prevent, avoid, or reduce harmful effects, including nuisance, caused by environmental noise.