INTRODUCTION
Communities Addressing Light Pollution that Affect Nighttime Military Training
Military installations are often important to state economies , generating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue . To protect the missions of military installations and the health of the economies that rely on them , states and local jurisdictions have started taking steps to address encroachment issues . One of these issues is light pollution , which can negatively impact military readiness and preparedness for effectively conducting night training missions and exercises . The light emanating from various sources including public street lights and local development activity results in light trespass , which can render night vision devices ( used by the military to train ) ineffective and result in lost military training hours and skills .
The value of addressing light pollution emanating from local communities as it impacts military installations was documented in an article , Strategies to Protect Arizona ’ s $ 9 Billion Military Economy : Western Maricopa County Military Land Use Nexus ( Footnote2013 ) in which it is noted that “ The U . S . military enjoys an advantage in conflict because of superior technology and capability with night vision devices . Although units continue to include training in higher-light conditions to maintain realism in some situations , dark-sky conditions are essential for effective testing and training .”
As urban development has moved closer to military installations over the past 30 years , the impact on nighttime training has increased . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers ’ Research and Development Center has demonstrated that land use impact buffers are typically no more than a couple of miles . However , on cloudy nights even light from cities 10 or more miles away can generate ambient light levels too high for night vision devices to work effectively . 1
In a study titled , Ambient Light Encroachment at Military Installations , the impacts of light pollution are documented in more detail especially related to the use of night vision equipment for operations at Fort Benning in Georgia and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina . 2 At the time , the Joint Land Use Studies ( JLUS ) conducted around the country at many installations identified the issue as one of concern for local governments as they consider managing the impacts of land use and the use of certain lighting fixtures on local military installations . The impact on the local community ’ s development regulation near these two bases and other military installations is documented further below .
This White Paper will present the status of outdoor lighting statutes and ordinances across the country and in the State of Texas , and focus on the development of a process to advance localized regulations that will effectively manage the negative impacts of light generated from local development on military night training missions .
STATE LEGISLATION
In 2011 , the National Conference of State Legislatures identified Ar Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Mexico , Oklahoma , Rhode Island have enacted state statutes addressing lighting pollution and encroac introduced in at least 27 states and has been adopted in 18 . While 1 dark night sky to protect future military training and testing , this leg saving aspects of minimizing light trespass for local governments . budgets for street lights and lighting used in development activities . legislation identified by the National Conference of State Legislatur encroachment and incompatible land use near military installations .
State of Arkansas The State of Arkansas enacted the Arkansas Shielded Outdoor Ligh and was amended in 2013 . The intent of this law is to protect the A outdoor lighting and promoting safety , conserving energy , saving ta natural nighttime environment for the general welfare of the citizen requires any street lights paid for with public funds to be shielded li counties or municipalities . Counties and municipalities could opt o fixtures were proven cost prohibitive after assessing total cost inclu operation of energy costs . Some communities including Russellvill regulations , which meant the protection of the night sky was not bei cost savings were not being realized . Therefore , the impetus for the the opt-out option and make it unlawful for excessive or unreasonab the property owner . Other regulations were enacted in the amendm provided , but are not meant to be an exhaustive list . The entire eng white paper .
( a ) An agency , public corporation , county , or municipal subdi funds to operate , maintain , install , or cause to be installed any outdoor fixture unless the following conditions are met :
( 1 ) The permanent outdoor fixture is a fully shielded fixtur permanent outdoor fixture is greater than one thousand eig
( 2 ) The permanent outdoor fixture is designed to maximize light pollution , glare , and light trespass ;
( 3 ) The permanent outdoor fixture ' s maximum illuminance that purpose under guidelines recommended for that purpo Society of North America , as the guidelines existed on Janu illuminance recommendation for that purpose by the Unite as the recommendation existed on January 1 , 2013 ;
( 4 ) For roadway lighting unassociated with intersections o determination is made by the Director of the Arkansas Stat Department or his or her designee or body of jurisdiction o installation or replacement cannot be achieved by reductio reflectorized roadway markers , lines , warnings , or informa and
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March 2004
2
LERDC / CERL Technical Note TN-05-2 , October 2005
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3
NCSL Website http :// www . ncsl . org / research / military-and-veterans-affairs installations . aspx
Appendix A : White Paper – Communities Addressing Light Pollution that Affect Nighttime Military Training