2026-16967: Revising HUD's Noise Abatement and Control Regulations; Correcting Amendment

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 53717-53718] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-16967] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 24 CFR Part 51 [Docket No. FR-6581-C-02] RIN 2506-AC63 Revising HUD's Noise Abatement and Control Regulations; Correcting Amendment

Agency

Office of Community Planning and Development, HUD.

Action

Correcting amendment. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

On June 12, 2026, HUD published a final rule revising its noise abatement and control regulations. Due to an amendatory instruction drafting error, codified text of was not revised as HUD intended and continues to reference the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. This document corrects that text to conform to HUD's intent as described in the preamble to the final rule.

Dates

Effective August 20, 2026.

For Further Information Contact

Peter Huber, Deputy Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410, Room 7282; telephone number (202) 402- 3941 (this is not a toll-free number). HUD welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone call, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs.

Supplementary Information

On June 12, 2026, HUD published a final rule (91 FR 35624) revising its noise abatement and control regulations at 24 CFR part 51. As explained in the preamble, HUD intended to amend Sec. 51.104(a)(2) and (b)(2) ``to allow for noise attenuation measures in unacceptable noise zones, projects in unacceptable noise zones, and EIS waivers for projects in unacceptable noise zones to be approved by the Assistant Secretary for the relevant program office overseeing a HUD-assisted project'' (91 FR 35625). Due to an amendatory instruction drafting error, the instruction for Sec. 51.104(b)(2) did not effectuate this intent. Instead of removing the reference to the ``Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development'' from Sec. 51.104(a)(2) and (b)(2), the instructions removed that reference only from Sec. 51.104(a)(2) (91 FR 35626). As a result, the codified text of Sec. 51.104(b)(2) continues to require that projects in or partially in an unacceptable noise zone be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (or the Certifying Officer for projects subject to part 58) for approval and that only the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (or the Certifying Officer) may waive the requirement for an environmental impact statement for such projects. This correcting amendment revises Sec. 51.104(b)(2) to replace the reference to the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development with ``Program Assistant Secretary or their designee,'' consistent with the revision made to Sec. 51.104(a)(2). List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 51 Airports, Hazardous substances, Housing standards, Noise control. Accordingly, 24 CFR part 51 is corrected by making the following correcting amendments: [[Page 53718]] PART 51--ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA AND STANDARDS 0