The Environmental Noise Directive intends the development of a concept to avoid, prevent or reduce on a prioritised basis the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to exposure to environmental noise and to inform the public on environmental noise and its effects. In a first step noise maps were made for all agglomerations and for all major roads, major railways and major airports. This noise maps are the basics for noise action plans. These plans have the target to prevent and to reduce environmental noise where necessary to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good. The results of the first round for noise mapping in Germany will be presented.