STAND. COM. REP. NO.  970

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1493

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to preserve the quality of the night sky and its associated cultural, scientific, astronomical, natural, and landscape-related values and provide an environmentally friendly strategy for the lighting of Hawaii.  Specifically, this measure requires the establishment of a starlight reserve strategy by, among other things:

     (1)  Requiring that every new and replacement outdoor lighting fixture use fully shielded lens fixtures to direct the lighting downward, with certain exceptions; and

     (2)  Stipulating conditions and parameters for lights in areas where fully shielded light fixtures are not used.

     The University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Starlight Reserve Committee, W.M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation, Subaru Telescope, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Transportation and a concerned individual opposed this bill.

     Hawaii's dark night sky is a valuable natural and cultural resource for the State, has tremendous scientific value for astronomy, and is of vital importance for endangered species including birds and turtles.  Unfortunately, unnecessary light pollution is threatening the dark night sky over the entire State with much of this light pollution being caused by improperly shielded lights.  The use of fully shielded outdoor lighting fixtures in Hawaii will conserve energy and resources while maintaining appropriate outdoor lighting suitable for safety, utility, and security.  These types of fixtures are also environmentally friendly and reduce the impact of non-shielded lighting on endangered species.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair