Area Astronomy Group Welcomes Light Pollution Law

Sunday, February 25, 2001

By: ED CONRAD

Standard-Speaker

The longtime president of the Greater Hazleton Astronomical Society supports passage of a bill that would set statewide standards on outdoor lighting. 'We're not opposed to lighting," explained Scott McAndrews. "We're only opposed to light being shot into the night sky."

The society, which has 25-30 active members, supports legislation to be proposed by state Rep. Bruce Smith (R-York) that would regulate nighttime lighting. It basically would allow the state to designate "dark areas" where development could be restricted in the name of clear nighttime vision, permitting a much clearer view of the sky in most instances.

Smith agrees that some people - certainly not amateur astronomers - who may well think his proposed legislation is silly. However, he said that people "who enjoy looking at the stars from time to time" ought to be able to do so without the interference and annoyance of certain types of lighting. I think it (a clear sky) is something we want to preserve," he noted.

Smith feels his proposed legislation is right on the mark because it doesn't call for mandatory retrofitting of any existing lighting. Meanwhile, he emphasizes, it in no way would interfere with lighting needed for, say, highway safety or necessary at outdoor stadiums or where a compelling safety interest is involved.

McAndrews, a 20-year Hazleton resident now living in Berwick and affiliated with WKAB Radio, said his society backs Smith's efforts because it wants to keep the situation from getting worse.

"One of the problems we have found is that a lot of cell towers are cropping up in the area," he said. McAndrews, president of the society for the past decade, explained that most people erecting cell towers use flashing white strobe lighting because it is the least expensive. But people -- even those who aren't into astronomy - find them to be very intrusive.

McAndrews said, whenever the society is aware of the construction of a new cell tower using white strobe lighting anywhere in the region, it approaches the property owner to pass along information about the lighting problem it causes. A suggestion is then made that red lighting be used instead.

McAndrews said he and the society are just trying to educate the public about the lighting problems, adding that the correct type of lighting can make it "easier on the eye for everyone." He said the society backs efforts that "show people how to use fully shielded cutoff lighting which actually gives you a better view on the ground. Meanwhile, said McAndrews, such lighting doesn't give glare, lights up the ground area widely and doesn't send anywhere near as much light into the night sky.

Across the commonwealth, stargazers for a number of years have insisted that an increase from light pollution because of rapid development and unregulated lighting is ruining the night sky.

Doug Grove, former president of the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, said viewing the Milky Way, for example, isn't what it once was three decades ago when he first got involved in astronomy. "The Milky Way used to stand out down here (when viewed at his organization's observatory), and you could see it at least 80 or 85 percent of the time," he revealed. "Now we have trouble seeing it more than 50 percent of the time.

He said Smith's proposed legislation is certainly a step in the right direction. "While we can't reverse what has been happening over the years, we can prevent it from getting worse," he remarked.

"As more people go to the newer fixtures and become more educated about light pollution ... maybe it eventually will give back that dark sky I grew up with as a kid."

The Greater Hazleton Astronomical Society meets every second Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Hazle Township Municipal Building on 23rd Street. Its next meeting is March 10. Meetings are open and free to the public and a cordial invitation is always extended to anyone interested in attending.

"The strange thing is that our membership includes almost all age groups and people of all walks of life," said McAndrews. "It's a really great organization."

ARTICLE BOX INSERT:

The proposal basically would allow the state to designate "dark areas" where development could be restricted in the name of clear nighttime vision, permitting a much clearer view of the sky in most instances.