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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9409 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9409
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``DoD Dark Sky Stewardship Act''.
SEC. 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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