THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
174 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
S.D. 1 |
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
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RESOLUTION
requesting the counties to address light pollution issues THROUGH their ordinances.
WHEREAS, dark skies are vital to the success of Hawaii's astronomy and space surveillance industries; and
WHEREAS, astronomy and space surveillance conducted in Maui and Hawaii counties contribute millions of dollars to the State's economy every year; and
WHEREAS, artificial lighting on the ocean or illuminating the shoreline and nearshore waters can be disruptive to both avian and marine life; and
WHEREAS, such artificial lights have been documented to cause the death of hatching sea turtles, fledgling shearwaters, nocturnal flying sea birds, and migratory birds; and
WHEREAS, laboratory studies have shown that artificial lights can also harm corals that naturally spawn during a full moon by inducing them to spawn artificially during the dark phase of the moon cycle; and
WHEREAS, there are reports by fishers that such artificial illumination affects the behavior of fish; and
WHEREAS, light pollution also affects astronomical and space surveillance industries, including scientific establishments on Mauna Kea and Haleakala; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the counties are requested to address all light pollution issues through their ordinances; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these issues include eliminating or mitigating artificial lights from adjacent buildings affecting the shorelines and nearshore waters that harm sea turtles, Newell's shearwaters, dark-rumped petrels, band-rumped storm petrels, Hawaiian monk seals, or any other marine population so threatened or harmed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these issues include eliminating or mitigating artificial lights from buildings affecting the darkness of our skies near key astronomy and space surveillance sites; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor and the Chairperson of the Council of each county.
Report Title:
Light Pollution; Cities and Counties; Building Ordinances