(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and con-
currently with the study required under subsection 
(b), the Secretary of Defense shall complete an audit 
of light pollution at the facilities selected pursuant 
to paragraph (2). Under such audit, the Secretary 
shall— 
(A) evaluate the lighting used at such fa-
cilities, with a focus on unshielded lighting; 
(B) determine whether any lighting fix-
tures are unnecessary; 
(C) determine whether any areas— 
(i) are unnecessarily lit; or 
(ii) are overlit and are suitable for 
lower ambient light under United Facilities 
Criteria 3–530–01; 
(D) identify any lighting or design trends 
across such facilities that contribute to light 
pollution; and 
(E) include a plan for reducing unneces-
sary lighting, overlit areas, and other sources of 
light pollution at such facilities. 
(2) AUDITED
FACILITIES.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall— 
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(A) select the Department of Defense fa-
cilities to be included in the audit under para-
graph (1); and 
(B) to the extent practicable, ensure that 
the group of such selected facilities is a rep-
resentative sample of Department of Defense 
facilities with respect to size, form, function, 
and geographic location. 
(3) PLAN DEADLINE.—Not later than 6 months 
after the audit required under paragraph (1) is com-
pleted, the Secretary of Defense shall implement the 
plan included in such audit. 
(b) STUDY.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and concurrently with the 
audit required under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of 
Defense shall conduct a study of light pollution at Depart-
ment of Defense facilities. In conducting the study, the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) examine how light pollution affects Depart-
ment of Defense operations and readiness; 
(2) examine how light pollution affects biodiver-
sity near Department of Defense facilities; 
(3) evaluate the effectiveness of compatible use 
buffer zones and other techniques already in use to 
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mitigate light pollution and its harmful effects at 
Department of Defense facilities; 
(4) evaluate the necessity and purpose of any 
unshielded lights at Department of Defense facili-
ties; 
(5) examine the use of additional light pollution 
mitigation technologies, processes, and policies to 
mitigate light pollution at Department of Defense 
facilities, including increasing the use of warm-light 
and low-output light-emitting diode lights and de-
creasing the use of cool-light and high-output light- 
emitting diode lights; 
(6) examine the feasability of establishing dark 
sky standards for Department of Defense facilities; 
(7) identify and analyze Federal, State, and 
local rules, regulations, and policies that support or 
inhibit the ability of the Secretary of Defense to 
mitigate light pollution at Department of Defense 
facilities; and 
(8) evaluate ongoing and potential additional 
initiatives at Department of Defense facilities to reg-
ulate lighting standards, including how such initia-
tives could be expanded without compromising na-
tional security or the mission, safety, or security of 
any such facility. 
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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the com-
pletion of the audit required under subsection (a)(1) and 
the study required under subsection (b), the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
a report, which shall include— 
(1) the results of the audit required under sub-
section (a)(1), including the methodology, findings, 
and recommendations of such audit; 
(2) the results of the study required under sub-
section (b), including unclassified examples of how 
light pollution affects Department of Defense oper-
ations and readiness; 
(3) identification of the funds, resources, and 
additional authorities required to execute any plans 
or recommendations developed pursuant to the study 
required under subsection (b); 
(4) recommendations for expanding or starting 
collaborative efforts with local communities that are 
located near Department of Defense facilities to 
limit light pollution; 
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(5) recommendations for protecting biodiversity 
near Department of Defense facilities from light pol-
lution without harming Department of Defense oper-
ations and readiness; and 
(6) recommendations on whether and, if appli-
cable, how the Department of Defense could create 
and implement dark sky standards for Department 
of Defense facilities. 
(d) PILOT PROJECTS.—The Secretary of Defense 
may establish pilot projects to reduce light pollution at De-
partment of Defense facilities based on the results of the 
study required under subsection (b). 
(e) DEPARTMENT SECURITY.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall ensure that the safety, security, and readiness 
of the Department of Defense is not negatively affected 
by— 
(1) the audit required under subsection (a)(1); 
(2) the implementation of the plan included in 
such audit; or 
(3) any pilot project established under sub-
section (d). 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘dark sky standards’’ means a 
group of policies, guidelines, or requirements that— 
(A) reduce light pollution; 
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(B) limit artificial light to areas where 
such light is intended to be used; and 
(C) protect the natural darkness of an out-
door location. 
(2) The term ‘‘Department of Defense facility’’ 
means any structure, building, training area, or 
other infrastructure of a military installation, includ-
ing a roadway or defense access road, and any other 
area on the grounds of a military installation that 
is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense 
or the Secretary of a military department. 
(3) The term ‘‘light pollution’’ means artificial 
light that emanates from buildings or other human- 
made structures that— 
(A) expands onto adjacent properties and 
is unnecessary in regards to the purpose or use 
of such adjacent property; or 
(B) degrades the visibility of the sky at 
night. 
Æ 
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