DoD Dark Sky Stewardship Act

Bill: 118-hr-9409
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]
Introduced: 2024-08-23
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2024-08-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9409 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 23, 2024 Ms. Sherrill introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct an audit and analysis of light pollution at certain Department of Defense facilities, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the DoD Dark Sky Stewardship Act . 2. Reduction of light pollution at Department of Defense facilities (a) Audit (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and concurrently 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 facilities, with a focus on unshielded lighting; (B) determine whether any lighting fixtures 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 unnecessary lighting, overlit areas, and other sources of light pollution at such facilities. (2) Audited facilities The Secretary of Defense shall— (A) select the Department of Defense facilities to be included in the audit under paragraph (1); and (B) to the extent practicable, ensure that the group of such selected facilities is a representative 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 completed, 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 Department of Defense facilities. In conducting the study, the Secretary shall— (1) examine how light pollution affects Department of Defense operations and readiness; (2) examine how light pollution affects biodiversity near Department of Defense facilities; (3) evaluate the effectiveness of compatible use buffer zones and other techniques already in use to 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 facilities; (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 decreasing 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 regulate lighting standards, including how such initiatives could be expanded without compromising national security or the mission, safety, or security of any such facility. (c) Report Not later than 6 months after the completion 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 Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report, which shall include— (1) the results of the audit required under subsection (a)(1), including the methodology, findings, and recommendations of such audit; (2) the results of the study required under subsection (b), including unclassified examples of how light pollution affects Department of Defense operations 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; (5) recommendations for protecting biodiversity near Department of Defense facilities from light pollution without harming Department of Defense operations and readiness; and (6) recommendations on whether and, if applicable, 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 Department of Defense facilities based on the results of the study required under subsection (b). (e) Department security The Secretary of Defense 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 subsection (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; (B) limit artificial light to areas where such light is intended to be used; and (C) protect the natural darkness of an outdoor location. (2) The term Department of Defense facility means any structure, building, training area, or other infrastructure of a military installation, including 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.