Fascinating story.  I've heard of light pollution, but never considered noise pollution of these remote areas.  The 60 dB allowable level is interesting.  Where I live in S. Anchorage, there is a grassy airstrip by the railroad tracks.  Plane(s) that take off/land have no muffler at all.  I don't know if that's the norm or not, but it certainly makes for the loudest thing in the neighborhood.