Report Title:

Airports; Harbors; Highways; Outdoor Lighting

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation, to the extend practicable, to comply with county outdoor lighting ordinances that are more stringent than other laws and regulations at airports, harbors, and highways.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

155

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Hawaii is home to two of the world's premier astronomy observatories, Haleakala on Maui and Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii.  Mauna Kea is considered the finest observation site in the world.  One of the most critical ways to preserve the value of these sites is to reduce bright sources of light that penetrate the dark night sky.  However, recent nighttime images from the international space station revealed that some of the brightest sources of light on Maui and Hawaii are the airports and harbors on both islands.  Also, astronomers on Mauna Kea have detected artificial light sources from urban areas that diminish the telescopes' ability to assist with research.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation, to the extent that is practical, to comply with county ordinances and standards relating to outside lighting at airports, harbors, and highways.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 262, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§262-    Outdoor lighting.  To the extent that it is practical and not in conflict with any safety regulation or federal law, regulation, or mandate, in the event that any airport regulations or standards relating to outdoor lighting on runways, ramp or apron areas, roadways, and parking lots are in conflict with any county ordinance or other regulations regarding the same areas, the more stringent requirement or standard to reduce bright sources of light that penetrate the dark night sky shall govern all new installations."

SECTION 3.  Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§264-    Highway lighting.  To the extent that it is practical and not in conflict with any safety regulation or federal law, regulation, or mandate, in the event that any highway regulations or standards relating to highway lighting are in conflict with any county ordinance or other regulations regarding highway lighting, the more stringent requirement or standard to reduce bright sources of light that penetrate the dark night sky shall govern all new installations."

     SECTION 4.  Chapter 266, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§266-    Outdoor lighting.  To the extent that it is practical and not in conflict with any safety regulation or federal law, regulation, or mandate, in the event that any harbor regulations or standards relating to outdoor lighting at any harbor facility conflict with any county ordinance or other regulations regarding the same areas, the more stringent requirement or standard to reduce bright sources of light that penetrate the dark night sky shall govern all new installations."

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________