; (8) because the Environmental Protection Agency remains legally responsible for enforcing regulations issued under the Noise Control Act of 1972 ( 42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq. ), even though funding for the activities of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control described in paragraph (7) was terminated, and because that Act prohibits State and local governments from regulating noise sources in many situations, noise abatement programs across the United States lie dormant; and (9) as population growth and air and vehicular traffic continue to increase, noise pollution is likely to become an even greater problem in the future, and the health and welfare of individuals in the United States demands that the Environmental Protection Agency, the lead Federal agency for the protection of public health and welfare, once again assume a role in combating noise pollution. 3. Reestablishment of Office of Noise Abatement and Control (a) Reestablishment The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator ) shall reestablish within the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Noise Abatement and Control (referred to in this section as the Office ). (b) Duties The responsibilities of the Office shall include— (1) promoting the development of effective State and local noise control programs by providing States with technical assistance and grants to develop those programs, including the purchasing of equipment for local communities; (2) carrying out a national noise control research program to assess the impacts of noise from varied noise sources on mental and physical health; (3) carrying out a national noise environmental assessment program— (A) to identify trends in noise exposure and response, ambient levels, and compliance data; and (B) to determine the effectiveness of noise abatement actions, including actions for areas around major transportation facilities (such as highways, railroad facilities, and airports)