Light pollution concerns at FLWO

Increases in light pollution are inevitable in southern Arizona, as population grows. The area surrounding FLWO in Pima and Santa Cruz County is protected by reasonable outdoor lighting codes to minimize the impact of light pollution on astronomical research and on the experience of the night sky for everyone. However, our vigilance is essential to ensure that light-pollution is minimized.

A view from the summit (click image to magnify to 2Kx400 pixels). Landmarks, settlements and developments are marked. Note: The VERITAS site is no longer as indicated in this image.

A recent view of lights near FLWO.

A good example of light pollution under control in Monte Patria, Chile, 60km south of CTIO, before and after switching (in 2005) from mercury vapor to low-pressure sodium street lights. (Reference: Physics Today, June 2005.) Note: per Arizona Revised Statutes 49-1104, mercury vapor lights are not allowed in Arizona.

2004

• 29 July 2004: Diamond Ventures, Inc. and Evergreen Devco, Inc. are planning a development called "Madera Marketplace" in Sahuarita, a rapidly-growing, recently incorporated town adjacent to Green Valley, to its North. In May 2004, Sahuarita upgraded its outdoor lighting code to be consistent with that of Pima County (Tucson/Marana/Pima OLC). Sahuarita is located within a 25-mile radius circle centered on Mt. Hopkins where outdoor lighting is restricted. The developers are requesting over twice the light levels allowed by the new Sahuarita OLC within the protected circle. See the letter to the Sahuarita P&Z Commission from D. Brocious, requesting that the request for a variance be denied. The request was on the agenda of the Sahuarita P&Z Commission for 02 August 2004.
• 30 July 2004: The Green Valley News publishes an informative article; see also their very supportive editorial
• 02 August 2004: The Sahuarita P&Z Commission turned down the developers' request in a very close vote (3 for/3 against/1 abstention, so the motion to approve failed). See the 04 August 2004 GVN article.
• 13 August 2004: The developers plan to appeal to the Sahuarita Town Council, most likely at its regularly-scheduled 23 August 2004 meeting. See the GVN article.
• 20 August 2004: After a productive meeting with FLWO representatives and with Hy Kaplan, a lighting consultant in Tucson, the developers decided to continue their appeal until the September meeting of the Sahuarita Town Council. Several new ideas were considered that would significantly improve their lighting plan. We will continue working with the developers and with any other interested parties. See the 20 August 2004 GVN articles 1 and 2 (which were printed before the continuance surfaced), as well as further very positive editorials of 20 Aug and 01 Sep .
• 10 September 2004: Another GVN news article.
• 22 September 2004: After additional meetings with the developers, they hired lighting designer Sarah Jewett of Electrical Design Associates in Tucson. She did a good job meeting IESNA standards and working toward the 48000 lumen/acre cap. The IESNA uniformity recommendation is 1 footcandle. Her plan is 1.3 fc overall. The previous plan was 1.9 fc. The photometric plot shows much better uniformity than the previous plan. This new plan is just under 60000 lumen/acre, about 1/3 lower than the previous plan. After reviewing the new plan, we agree that although it did not reach the cap, the lighting designer could not have reduced the lighting further, given the awkward shape of the lot and specific requirements such as illumination of ATM areas. See the 22 September 2004 GVN editorial.
• 29 September 2004: The Sahuarita Town Council granted a "code modification" (better known elsewhere as a "variance") to the developers of Madera Marketplace with a lumen cap not to exceed 60000 lum/ac. Hy Kaplan's verdict is that the ligthing design is good, and the result is an adequate compromise. See the 29 September 2004 GVN article and editorial.
• 27 October 2004: The weekly edition of "World Gas Intelligence" (Vol. XV, No. 43) carried an article by Lucy Hornby (p. 8) titled "Keeping LNG facilities just a little bit more in the dark" (courtesy of Sarah Miller, Editor, and Lucy Hornby). The single-page article (available here, PDF) illustrates the very positive impact of Tucson area light codes on the lighting standards for new LNG plants, which usually are extremely over-lighted. Enlightened engineers have adopted the Tucson standards to the benefit of the night skies. Beyond that, the article provides examples showing that good lighting costs were 5% higher than the norm, but long-term operating costs were 25% lower, and in another instance, initial costs 25% higher were offset by 40% lower energy costs. Good lighting is always more effective for the bottom line!
• 26 November 2004: Another GV News article that shows the interest in dark skies among our neighbors. This time, the subject was billboards in Tucson and Pima County. At least 73 of the 118 Clear Channel billboards in Pima County violate county codes (see the article). Dan Brocious on behalf of FLWO and Richard Green on behalf of KPNO testified against a proposed settlement that would have rewarded the billboard owners for violating the outdoor lighting code.

2005

• April/May 2005: Two bills were narrowly approved by the legislature that could have allowed increases in light pollution, had they not been vetoed by Governor Janet Napolitano. The bills in question were Senate Bill SB1193 and House Bill HB2461 (designed by Young Electric Sign Co.):

  SB1193 first read 01/24/05
         adopted    04/28/05 16-14 Senate
         vetoed     05/05/05
  

  The bill would have weakened the ability of municipalities to enforce local ordinances regarding billboard and outdoor advertisements, as is the case for the city of Tucson. See Governor Napolitano's veto (PDF) letter.

  HB2461 first read 01/20/05
         adopted    04/14/05 19-10 House
         adopted    05/02/05 16-13 Senate
         vetoed     05/09/05         
  

  The bill would have allowed flashing LED electronic billboards to be erected "off-premise" and was strongly opposed by neighborhood associations and the astronomical community and industry in Southern Arizona. See Governor Napolitano's veto (PDF) letter. See also a 10 May 2005 Arizona Daily Star report (PDF).

  2006

• July 2006: The Santa Cruz County Planning & Zoning Commission (P&ZC) held a hearing on 07/27/06, to consider a request from Mr. Tim Bunn and his developers, the Molera Alvarez Group (MAG), for a Minor Amendment to the Santa Cruz County, AZ (SCC) Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)) (1.8MB PDF). He owns 624 acres in SCC just South of the Rex Ranch and just East of the Santa Cruz River (see the SCC staff report (3.8MB PDF) to the P&ZC for a map). The property is about 10 miles from FLWO. He wishes to develop the property and build up to 2,500 new housing units (see articles from the GV News or the Nogales International (NI) and an extravagant advertisement for the project that ran in several issues of the NI) (PDF). A similar request for the same development but with more housing units was turned down by the P&ZC (in a 7-1 vote) one year ago.

  The hearing took place at an auditorium in the old dog track buildings in Amado, now the "De Anza Trails RV Resort." The P&ZC rejected the request unanimously (8-0) after nearly 5 hours of presentations from SCC staff and the developers, as well as opinions from a packed audience. These opinions were in overwhelming opposition. They arose from the size of the proposed development, which would have meant a radical change to an area designated as scenic and rural in the CLUP. In no small part, the proximity and expected lumens from the project were a significant component of the opposition (see a supportive GV News editorial) (PDF).

• September 2006: As expected, after the P&ZC hearing in July 2006, Mr. Bunn started the process to request approval directly from the SCC Board of Supervisors. The BOS is empowered to accept or reject the P&ZC recommendations. A public hearing with the BOS had been scheduled for Sept. 06, but as of Aug. 31, they had withdrawn their request for a hearing. Watch this space for updates.

2007

• May 2007: Development continues ramping up sharply.

  In Sahuarita, Rancho Sahuarita Marketplace (a new shopping area next to I-19) has started construction. We were involved with the developers and the town of Sahuarita in the process of lighting design for this development. The developers chose to exercise their right to use the now-superseded 1993 outdoor lighting code to which they are apparently entitled under the initial development agreement. There are still significant issues with uplights on trees and shrubbery. Unfortunately, the old code lacks the lumen limits of the modern (2004) code.

  There are also proposals for more than 10,000 new houses in SCC, in the Tubac-Amado area. The proposed developments would fall within the most highly-protected 12.5-mile radius from the summit of Mt. Hopkins. (Such protection derives from the Pima County-Tucson outdoor lighting code.) We will report on the plans as they are presented to the public, and we will continue to interact with developers and County staff to minimize their impact on the night sky.

2008

• March 2008: Development and outdoor light update.

  Two large developments near Tubac, Las Mesas with 1,244 acres and Sopori Ranch with 6,076 acres with a total of over 10,000 housing units, requested amendments to the CLUP (see above) to increase their housing densities by factors of several over the numbers allowed by current zoning. Brocious and Falco spoke at P&ZC hearings, describing the outdoor lighting effects of the increases, which were well outside the intent of the CLUP. They were turned down as proposed by the SCC P&ZC in late 2007. That seemed reasonable, as the requests would result in extreme deviations from the CLUP. However, the final word belongs to the BOS (see above), and in a 2-1 decision the BOS ignored the P&ZC recommendations and approved the requests for both proposed developments, as described in a 12/13/07 GV News article. Subsequently, the Coalition for Responsible Growth was formed and its first action was to collect signatures for a referendum to reverse the BOS decision, as described in an 01/11/08 GV News article. The 2 separate petitions, one for Las Mesas and the other for Sopori Ranch, were signed by more than 2,000 people each, compared to the minimum required of 828 signatures. The referendum will be in the November 4, 2008 ballot in SCC.

  The Border Patrol (BP) proposed in 2007 to establish a permanent checkpoint on I-19 at about km 52, near a rest stop about 10 mi from Mt. Hopkins. We engaged in a dialog with BP to try to ensure that, if the plans are implemented, lighting from the checkpoint will be adequately shielded. The permanent checkpoint idea was abandoned late in 2007 after significant opposition from area residents. However, a checkpoint on I-19, km 42 that has been in place for more than a year remains in use. The site is under an overpass at the Agua Linda exit. It has extremely bright lights that are poorly shielded and improperly aimed. Here are some views of the checkpoint at night. To follow up on our dialog, in early Feb 2008, we wrote a letter to the BP expressing our concerns about the I-19 checkpoint and about a similarly bright one on Arivaca Road west of Amado, and suggesting ways to improve the lighting and minimize uplight. As of 03/12/08, we have not had a response, but we plan to continue the dialog.

  The Secure Border Initiative (SBI) is a DHS "comprehensive multi-year plan to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration" (DHS press release, 11/02/05). It includes "A comprehensive and systemic upgrading of the technology used in controlling the border, including increased manned aerial assets, expanded use of UAVs, and next-generation detection technology;" as well as "Increased investment in infrastructure improvements at the border - providing additional physical security to sharply reduce illegal border crossings;" (from the same press release). On 05/09/07, we expressed our concerns here. The program has encountered significant delays. In particular the supposedly high-tech "virtual fence" being built along a 28-mile stretch of the border in Arizona (SW of FLWO), has been delayed several months by technical problems, some of which remain fully unresolved (NY Times 03/06/08).

  Augusta Resources (AR) of Canada has proposed a new open-pit copper mine (Rosemont) in the Santa Rita mountains, about 10 miles NE of FLWO in Pima County. The proposal was made in 2006, but it has encountered significant opposition, as shown here. It has also prompted Congressional action to try to modify the 1872 General Mining Act. As the mine would use Coronado National Forest land, the Forest Service, as required by regulations, is proceeding with the NEPA process. It will operate day and night, but as of yet, we do not know the details of the lighting the mine would have. Dust emissions would also be a concern.

  Santa Cruz County Outdoor Lighting Code: success! After a protracted process that we started in 2002, Santa Cruz County is now ready to adopt an updated outdoor lighting code. It will become Article 28 of the Zoning and Development Code. The 9-member Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously accepted the text of the code with minor modifications at its 27 March 2008 public hearing. Dan Brocious, Emilio Falco as well as a number of amateur astronomers and county residents were in attendance and expressed their support for the new code. The next and final step will be consideration by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing before this summer.

• June 2008: Outdoor light update.

  On 11 June 2008, the 3-member Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously accepted the new outdoor lighting code as Article 28 of the Zoning and Development Code. Article 28 (PDF) became effective on 11 July 2008. We thank the P&Z commission, the director of community development of Santa Cruz County, Ms. Mary Dahl and her staff for their efforts, and Santa Cruz County Supervisors Maynard, Damon and Ruiz for their support in adopting this code.

• November 2008: Development update.

  The referenda on the Las Mesas and Sopori Ranch requests for major amendments to the Santa Cruz County Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Propositions 400 and 401) took place on November 4, 2008. A yes vote for these propositions would have let stand the BOS decision to approve the requests. Both propositions received about 71% no votes and 29% yes votes, thus overturning the BOS decision.

2010

• August 2010: Outdoor light update.

The Secure Border Initiative (SBI) SBInet program (a system of movable surveillance towers, sensors, cameras and communication relays) has been plagued with cost overruns and missed deadlines. The technology developed by Boeing is flawed and remains inoperable.
See the CNN March 2010 story.

The Border Patrol (BP) replaced the temporary checkpoint at km 42 with an upgraded checkpoint on 5 April 2010, just north of the Chavez Siding (km 40) interchange in Tubac. With a 115x105x40-foot canopy over the northbound lanes of I-19, it looks permanent. Most of the lights are under the canopy, which has a light-colored translucent fabric that lets some light through. It is an improvement as it renders the checkpoint less visible at night than the previous temporary one. Additional portable lights are still in use, but in fewer numbers; apparently they are pointed more judiciously than at the old checkpoint at km 42.

Augusta Resources (AR) of Canada continues promoting its Rosemont mine project. SAO is a Cooperating Agency in the Rosemont Copper Project Environmental Impact Study (EIS) with the Coronado National Forest (CNF). Representing SAO, Dan Brocious and Emilio Falco participated in meetings starting in July 2009 with the CNF and cooperating agencies: Tohono O'odham Nation, Air Force, Army COE, BLM, AZDEQ, AZMMR, AZDWR, AZGF, AZGS, AZSMI, AZSLD, AZSP, ADOT, Pima County, City of Tucson and Town of Sahuarita. The EIS is a requirement under NEPA, to evaluate the proposal and other alternatives. We have submitted comments to the CNF with our concerns regarding light pollution, dust pollution and likely vibrations due to blasting. All comments and related documentation are posted in the CNF EIS website, where it may be difficult to locate particular documents, but we will be glad to try to assist. The draft EIS (DEIS) is currently scheduled for release in the 3rd quarter of 2010. The CNF states it cannot reject the project because of the 1872 General Mining Act, although there are differing legal views. There is very significant opposition among the public and among local politicians.

    2011

• May 2011 update

The original schedule for the DEIS was clearly infeasible. CNF and AR have now agreed to a revised schedule for completion of the DEIS for the proposed Rosemont Copper Project. The DEIS will be released during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to Reta Laford, Deputy Forest Supervisor on the CNF. A 90-day public comment period will immediately follow DEIS publication. These activities are part of the NEPA process required for evaluation of the proposal and other alternatives. Documentation is posted in the CNF EIS website, which is not always up to date, or has missing pages (e.g., the News Release).

Unfortunately, our  concerns regarding light pollution, dust pollution and likely vibrations due to blasting remain largely unresolved, but we will pursue the discussion as much as is needed.



• May 2011 update

The New York Times published Marc Lacey's insightful article about FLWO that includes our concerns regarding light pollution.


• August 2011 update

A 2008 study by AASTA, the Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy quantified for the first time the overall impact of research activities in astronomy, planetary and space sciences (APSS) in Arizona. Quoting from the abstract of the report (pdf, 15MB),
"This study found substantial capital investment (in excess of $1 billion) in, and economic return (nearly a quarter of a billion dollars annually) from APSS research in Arizona. The data also suggest the untapped potential of these research fields to expand the State's economic base. The study revealed levels of active research funding that well exceeded other fields in the State, such as bioscience funding from the National Institutes of Health."

    2012

• January 2012 Rosemont update

• March 2012 Rosemont update

• March 2012 Electronic billboards update

• April 2012 Electronic billboards update

• April 2012 Rosemont update

• For historical perspective, visit Craig Foltz's 1998 Canoa link.
• For information on preservation of dark skies, visit the International Dark-Sky Association, a superb general resource.
• For satellite maps of the effects of light pollution, visit The night sky in the world.