RecommendedLightingPractices

ACollaborativeEffortbythePermianBasinPetroleumAssociation,theTexasOilandGasAssociation,theAmericanPetroleumInstitute,

UniversityLands,andtheMcDonaldObservatory*

*MuchofthelanguagehereinwasadoptedfromaBureauofLandManagementDocument,“BestManagementPracticesforReducingVisualImpactsofRenewableEnergyFacilitiesonBLM-AdministeredLands”(BLM/WY/PL-13/013+1340).

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TABLEOFCONTENTS1.PrepareaLightingPlan 2 2.UseAudiovisualWarningSystem(AVWS)TechnologyforHazardLightingonStructuresTallerthan200feet 3 3.UseFullCutoffLuminaires 3 4.DirectLightsProperlytoEliminateLightSpillandTrespass 4 5.UseAmberinsteadofBluish-WhiteLighting 5 6.MinimizeLightingUsageduringConstructionandOperations 6 7.UseVehicle-MountedLightsorPortableLightTowersforNighttimeMaintenanceActivities 7 8.OptionsiftheNeedtoFlareArises 8Introduction: TheserecommendedlightingpracticesarearesultofcollaborationbetweenthemembersofthePermianBasinPetroleumAssociation(PBPA),headquarteredinMidland,Texas,theTexasOilandGasAssociation(TXOGA),headquarteredinAustin,theAmericanPetroleumInstitute(API),headquarteredinWashington,DC,UniversityLands,headquarteredinHouston,andTheUniversityofTexasMcDonaldObservatory,locatednearFt.Davis.ThePBPA,TXOGA,API,andUniversityLands,stronglysupporttheMcDonaldObservatoryandtheendeavorsitstrivestoaccomplish.Knowingthatdarkskiesarevitaltothoseendeavors,thePBPA,TXOGA,API,UniversityLands,andtheObservatoryoffertheincludedrecommendationstoaccomplishjustthat.TheserecommendationsaretargetedatoperationsintheTexascountiesofBrewster,Culberson,Hudspeth,JeffDavis,Pecos,Presidio,andReevestohelpprotecttheObservatory,butareequallybeneficialacrosstheindustry.FromallofusatthePBPA,TXOGA,API,UniversityLands,andtheMcDonaldObservatory,andinparticularfromthemembersoftheDarkSkiesInitiative,thankyouforfollowingtheserecommendations,andforhelpingtokeepthenightskiesofWestTexasdark.Regards,

BenShepperdPBPAPresident

BillWrenMcDonaldObservatorySpecialAssistanttotheSuperintendent

ToddStaplesTXOGAPresident

MikeSommersAPIPresidentandCEO

MarkHouserUniversityLandsCEO

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1.PrepareaLightingPlanProjectPhase:SitingandDesign

Itisrecommendedthatalightingplanbeprepareddocumentinghowlightingwillbedesignedandinstalledtominimizenight-skyimpactsandimpactsonnocturnalwildlifeduringconstructionandoperations.Thelightingplanshouldspecifythefollowing:(1)Numberoflightsandlumenoutputofeach—Minimumnumberoflightsandthelowestluminosityconsistentwithsafeandsecureoperationofthefacility;(2)Alternativestolighting—Retro-reflectiveorluminescentmarkersinlieuofpermanentlightingwherefeasible;(3)Fixturedesign—Lightsoftheproperdesign,shieldedtoeliminateup-light,placedanddirectedtoeliminatelightspillandtrespasstooffsitelocations;(4)Lampcolortemperature—Lightsofthepropercolortominimizenight-skyimpacts;(5)Standard operating procedures—Minimization of unnecessary lighting use throughalternativestopermanentlighting,suchasrestrictinglightingusagetocertaintimeperiods;(6)Anyactivitiesthatmayberestrictedtoavoidnight-skyimpacts;and,(7)Aprocess forpromptlyaddressingandmitigating complaintsaboutpotential lightingimpactsLimitations: Safetyandsecuritymustbeconsideredindevelopingalightingplanfor

facilities and access roads. The FAA, OSHA, and other agenciesmayhaveregulationsgoverninglightingpracticesthatmustbeconsideredindesigningfacilitylighting.

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2.UseAudiovisualWarningSystem(AVWS)TechnologyforHazardLightingonStructuresTallerthan200feet

ProjectPhase:SitingandDesignIftheFAAapprovesAVWStechnologyforgeneraluse,itshouldbeusedforstructuresexceeding200feetinheight.IftheFAAdeniesapermitforuseofthistechnology,theprojectdevelopershouldlimittheamountoflightingtotheminimumrequiredbytheFAA,inordertominimizevisibilitybeyondthatrequiredtomeetsafetyrequirements.

3.UseFullCutoffLuminairesProjectPhase:SitingandDesign

Exceptasrequiredtomeettheminimumsafetyandsecurityrequirements(e.g.,collisionmarkersrequiredbytheFAA,orotheremergencylightingtriggeredbyalarms),itisrecommendedthatallpermanentlightingusefullcutoffluminaires,whicharefullyshielded(i.e.,notemittingdirectorindirectlightaboveanimaginaryhorizontalplanepassingthroughthelowestpartofthelightsource).ItisalsorecommendedthatallpermanentlightingmeettheIlluminatingEngineeringSociety(IES)glarerequirementlimitingintensityoflightfromtheluminaireintheregionbetween80°and90°fromtheground.Itisfurtherrecommendedthatallfixturesbemountedproperly,attheproperangle.

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4.DirectLightsProperlytoEliminateLightSpillandTrespass

ProjectPhase:SitingandDesign,Construction

Constructionandpermanentlightingshouldbemountedanddirectedtofocuslightonlyontheintendedarea,andtoavoidlightspillandoffsitelighttrespass.Lightspointingupwardorhorizontallyshouldbeavoided.Limitations: Safetyorfunctionalconsiderationsmaydictatelightingpracticesthat

resultinsomelightspillorlighttrespass.

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5.UseAmberinsteadofBluish-WhiteLightingProjectPhase:SitingandDesign

Whenaccuratecolorrenditionisnotrequired(e.g.,roadway,basicsecurity),itisrecommendedthatlightingbeamberincolor,usingeitherlow-pressuresodiumlampsoryellowLEDlighting,oranequivalent,withLEDlightingbeingpreferredoversodium.Whenwhitelightisrequiredforaccuratecolorrendition,itshouldbelessthanorequalto3500°,andpreferablybelow3000°Kelvincolortemperature(warm-white).Bluish-whitelightingshouldnotbeusedinpermanentoutdoorlighting.Limitations: Safetyandsecuritymustbeconsideredindesigningandusing

lighting,includingthecoloringofthatlighting.Furtherofnote,lightingthatisamberorwarm-whiteincolorsometimesrequiresaspecialorderfromlightingmanufacturers.

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6.MinimizeLightingUsageduringConstructionandOperations

ProjectPhase:Construction,Operations

Consistentwithsafetyrequirements,lightinguseshouldbeminimizedduringconstructionandoperations.Duringconstruction,localizedandportablelightingshouldbeusedwhereandwhentheworkisoccurring.Lightingshouldbepoweredbygeneratorsorelectricaldistributionwhenavailableandhaveswitchestocutpowerwhenlightingisnotrequiredduringconstruction.Lightingforfacilitiesshouldnotexceedtheminimumnumber,intensity,andcoveragerequiredforsafetyandbasicsecurity.Allarealightingshouldbedividedintoseparatelycontrolledzonestofocuslightingonsmallerareaswheretasksarebeingperformedandtoavoidilluminatingunusedspace.Arealightingshouldbecontrolledbytimers,sensors,orswitchesavailabletofacilityoperators;dusk-to-dawnlightingcontrolledbyphotocellaloneshouldnotbeallowedexceptwhererequiredforsafety.Thefacilityoperatorsshouldidentifythosecomponents/structuresthatdonotrequirecontinuouslightingforsafetyreasons.Arealightsshouldonlybeswitchedonwhenthereisaspecificneed(e.g.,personsoccupyinganarea,oralarmsituation).Whennotneeded,lightsshouldbeswitchedoff.Exceptionstoswitched-offlightingforsafetypurposesshouldbearticulatedinthelightingplan(seePBPARLP1above).Focusedtasklighting,portablelighttowers,orflashlightsshouldbeusedinsteadofarealighting,andretro-reflectiveorluminescentmarkersshouldbeusedinlieuofpermanentlightingwherefeasible.Limitations: Safetyandsecuritymustbeconsideredindesigningandusing

lighting.TheFAA,OSHA,andotheragenciesmayhaveregulationsgoverninglightingpracticesthatmustbeconsideredindesigningfacilitylightingandregulatinglightingusage.

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7.UseVehicle-MountedLightsorPortableLightTowersforNighttimeMaintenanceActivities

ProjectPhase:Operations

Vehicle-mountedlightsorportablelighttowersarepreferredoverpermanentlymountedlightingfornighttimemaintenanceactivities.Ifpossible,suchlightingshouldbeequippedwithhoodsorlouversandbeaimedtowardthegroundtoavoidcausingglareandskyglow.Limitations: Useofvehiclelightingmustbeconsistentwithsafetyrequirements.

Somemaintenanceactivitiesmayhavelightingrequirementsthatmakevehicle-mountedlightingimpractical.

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8.OptionsiftheNeedtoFlareArises

ProjectPhase:OperationsLimitinglightemittedbyflaringisanelementthatcouldhaveasignificantpositiveimpactonfugitivelighting,andhaveafairlyminorcommercialimpactonoperations.Thus,itisrecommendedthatlocationswithacontinuousornear-continuousflareconsiderutilizinganenclosedcombustororsimilartechnologyratherthananopenflare,wheretechnicallyandcommerciallyviable.Whilethetopofanenclosedcombustorisopen,thelightemittedfromacombustorversusanopenflareisdramaticallyless.Limitations: Safetyandsecuritymustbeconsideredindesigningandusingan

enclosedcombustor.TheEPA,RailroadCommissionofTexasandotheragenciesmayhaveregulationsgoverningpracticesthatmustbeconsideredinutilizinganenclosedcombustor.