S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
751
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, ENGLEBRIGHT, PAULIN, LUPARDO, CAHILL,
BROOK-KRASNY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABINANTI, BOYLAND,
BRENNAN, DINOWITZ, GABRYSZAK, GALEF, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, MILLMAN,
O'DONNELL, ORTIZ, SWEENEY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law and the public
service law, in relation to enacting the healthy, safe and energy
efficient outdoor lighting act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
new article 20 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20
HEALTHY, SAFE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT OUTDOOR LIGHTING ACT
SECTION 20-0101. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND POLICY.
20-0103. SHORT TITLE.
20-0105. DEFINITIONS.
20-0107. PERMANENT OUTDOOR LUMINAIRE.
20-0109. DARK-SKY PRESERVES.
20-0111. MODEL COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING ORDINANCE.
20-0113. INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLET.
20-0115. APPLICABILITY.
S 20-0101. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND POLICY.
THE LEGISLATURE FINDS THAT CAREFUL MANAGEMENT OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING IS
NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, ENERGY SECURITY, ENVIRONMENT
AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.
UNTIL THE END OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, WANING DAYLIGHT BROUGHT AN
END TO MANY OF MANKIND'S ACTIVITIES. THIS BEGAN TO CHANGE WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF INCANDESCENT LAMPS, WHICH DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE
RANGE OF PURSUITS POSSIBLE AFTER DARK. CIVIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, EDUCA-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02229-01-3
A. 751 2
TIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS NOW GO FORWARD WITH AN EASE AND FREEDOM
UNIMAGINABLE IN EARLIER TIMES. AS THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTING EVOLVED,
HOWEVER, TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS GRADUALLY OUTSTRIPPED THE BASIC REQUIRE-
MENT OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION FOR THE TASK AT HAND. AT LEAST
IN THE CASE OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING, THERE IS NOW GROWING RECOGNITION THAT
THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT ALTOGETHER BENIGN.
INCREASING SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIENTIAL EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATES THAT
MISDIRECTED, UNSHIELDED, EXCESSIVE OR UNNECESSARY OUTDOOR NIGHT LIGHTING
HAS MAJOR DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS. ENERGY IS WASTED WHEN ILLUMINATION IS
USED EXCESSIVELY AND INEFFICIENTLY, CAUSING UNNECESSARY HEALTH-THREATEN-
ING EMISSIONS FROM BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS. SUCH EMISSIONS ALSO POLLUTE
THE STATE'S WATERS AND CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING.
BECAUSE THE HUMAN EYE AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS TO THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT IN
VIEW, THE GLARE FROM UNSHIELDED OR EXCESSIVELY BRIGHT OUTDOOR LIGHTING
CAN ACTUALLY INTERFERE WITH THE CLEAR PERCEPTION OF OTHER OBJECTS IN
ONE'S FIELD OF VISION.
INAPPROPRIATE USE OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, INTERFERING WITH NORMAL PATTERNS OF ACTIVITY,
BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY OF FLORA AND FAUNA. RECENT RESEARCH HAS INDI-
CATED THAT EXPOSURE TO LIGHT AT NIGHT CAN UPSET NORMAL HUMAN CIRCADIAN
RHYTHMS, THEREBY DISRUPTING HORMONE SECRETIONS AND WEAKENING THE BODY'S
IMMUNE SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION, SKY GLOW FROM UNSHIELDED AND UNNECESSARY OUTDOOR LIGHTING
THWARTS THE AGES-OLD HUMAN YEARNING TO GAZE AT, LEARN FROM AND ENJOY THE
WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY.
THE LEGISLATURE FURTHER FINDS THAT COST-EFFICIENT MEANS AND PRACTICES
EXIST THROUGH APPROPRIATE USE OF LUMINAIRES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NIGHT
LIGHTING WHEN NEEDED THAT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BUT CAUSES MINIMAL LIGHT
TRESPASS, GLARE, AND SKY GLOW. THESE MEANS AND PRACTICES ARE POSSIBLE
WITH INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND PRUDENT PUBLIC
ACTION AS PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE.
THEREFORE, IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE TO BEGIN LIMITING LIGHT
POLLUTION IN THE STATE IN A COST-EFFECTIVE AND SOCIALLY FEASIBLE MANNER
IN ORDER TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
S 20-0103. SHORT TITLE.
THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE "HEALTHY, SAFE AND
ENERGY EFFICIENT OUTDOOR LIGHTING ACT".
S 20-0105. DEFINITIONS.
AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
1. "LUMINAIRE" MEANS A COMPLETE LIGHTING UNIT, INCLUDING A LAMP OR
LAMPS TOGETHER WITH THE PARTS DESIGNED TO DISTRIBUTE THE LIGHT, TO POSI-
TION AND PROTECT THE LAMPS, AND TO CONNECT THE LAMPS TO THE POWER
SUPPLY; A LIGHT FIXTURE.
2. "GLARE" MEANS LIGHT EMITTED BY A LUMINAIRE THAT CAUSES REDUCED
VISIBILITY OR MOMENTARY BLINDNESS BY SHINING DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF
THE VIEWER.
3. "LAMP" MEANS THE COMPONENT OF A LUMINAIRE THAT PRODUCES LIGHT; A
LIGHT BULB.
4. "LIGHT POLLUTION" MEANS ANY ADVERSE EFFECT OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, GLARE AND SKY GLOW.
5. "LUMEN" MEANS THE UNIT OF MEASUREMENT USED TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT
OF LIGHT PRODUCED BY A LAMP OR EMITTED FROM A LUMINAIRE, AS DISTINCT
FROM "WATT", A MEASURE OF POWER CONSUMPTION.
6. "FULLY SHIELDED LUMINAIRE" MEANS A LUMINAIRE CONSTRUCTED AND
INSTALLED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ALL LIGHT EMITTED BY IT, EITHER DIRECTLY
FROM THE LAMP OR A DIFFUSING ELEMENT, OR INDIRECTLY BY REFLECTION OR
A. 751 3
REFRACTION FROM ANY PART OF THE LUMINAIRE, IS PROJECTED BELOW A HORIZON-
TAL PLANE THROUGH THE LUMINAIRE'S LOWEST LIGHT EMITTING PART.
7. "PERMANENT OUTDOOR LUMINAIRE" MEANS ANY LUMINAIRE OR SYSTEM OF
LUMINAIRES THAT IS OUTDOORS AND THAT IS USED FOR MORE THAN TEN DAYS IN A
THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAY PERIOD.
8. "ROADWAY LIGHTING" MEANS PERMANENT OUTDOOR LUMINAIRES THAT ARE
SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO ILLUMINATE ROADWAYS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES.
9. "CONTINUOUS ROADWAY LIGHTING DESIGN" MEANS A LIGHTING PLAN THAT
ESTIMATES LIGHT ON A ROADWAY FROM CALCULATIONS UTILIZING FACTORS INCLUD-
ING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A PARTICULAR LUMINAIRE, MOUNTING HEIGHT, OR
POLE SPACING, IN ORDER TO MEET A SPECIFIED GOAL SUCH AS MINIMUM LIGHTING
LEVEL, UNIFORMITY, OR SMALL-TARGET VISIBILITY. LIGHTING PLACED ONLY AT
INTERSECTIONS OR OTHER POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS SHALL NOT BE
CONSIDERED CONTINUOUS.
10. "SKY GLOW" MEANS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE NIGHTTIME SKY THAT
RESULTS FROM UPWARD SHINING LIGHT, WHICH IS REFLECTED OFF MOLECULES AND
PARTICLES OF DIRT AND MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
S 20-0107. PERMANENT OUTDOOR LUMINAIRE.
1. NO STATE AGENCY OR PUBLIC CORPORATION OPERATING IN THE STATE SHALL
INSTALL OR CAUSE TO BE INSTALLED ANY NEW OR REPLACEMENT PERMANENT
OUTDOOR LUMINAIRE UNLESS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET:
(A) ANY LUMINAIRE WITH A LAMP OR LAMPS HAVING TOTAL INITIAL OUTPUT
GREATER THAN 1800 LUMENS SHALL BE FULLY SHIELDED, EXCEPT THAT A HISTOR-
IC-STYLE DECORATIVE LUMINAIRE MAY EMIT UP TO TWO PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL
LUMENS ABOVE THE HORIZONTAL PLANE;
(B) IF A LIGHTING RECOMMENDATION PUBLISHED BY THE ILLUMINATING ENGI-
NEERING SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA APPLIES, FULL CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO
THE MINIMUM MAINTAINED LIGHT LEVEL ADEQUATE TO MEET THE RECOMMENDATION;
(C) IF NO SUCH LIGHTING RECOMMENDATION APPLIES, NO MORE THAN THE MINI-
MUM MAINTAINED LIGHT LEVEL ADEQUATE FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE IS USED;
(D) FOR ROADWAY LIGHTING UNASSOCIATED WITH INTERSECTIONS, A DETERMI-
NATION IS MADE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE LIGHTING INSTALLATION OR REPLACE-
MENT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED BY INSTALLATION OF REFLECTORIZED ROADWAY MARK-
ERS, LINES, WARNINGS OR INFORMATIONAL SIGNS, OR OTHER PASSIVE MEANS;
(E) ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CONSERVING ENERGY AND
MINIMIZING GLARE AND SKY GLOW; AND
(F) THE NEW OR REPLACEMENT LUMINAIRE MEETS THE LUMINAIRE EFFICIENCY
AND LAMP LUMINOUS EFFICACY STANDARDS DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
FIVE OF THIS SECTION.
2. THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION:
(A) SITUATIONS WHERE FEDERAL LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS TAKE PRECED-
ENCE; AND
(B) SITUATIONS WHERE FIRE, POLICE, RESCUE, OR REPAIR PERSONNEL INCLUD-
ING UTILITY PERSONNEL NEED LIGHT FOR TEMPORARY EMERGENCIES OR ROAD
REPAIR WORK.
3. THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF
PARAGRAPHS (A) AND (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION:
(A) THE LUMINAIRE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR A LUMINAIRE THAT IS PART OF A
CONTINUOUS ROADWAY LIGHTING DESIGN;
(B) THE LUMINAIRE IS A HISTORIC-STYLE DECORATIVE LUMINAIRE WHICH IS
PART OF A CONTINUOUS ROADWAY LIGHTING DESIGN WHERE THE REPLACEMENT OF
THE LUMINAIRE PIECEMEAL WITH COMPLIANT LUMINAIRES WOULD UNACCEPTABLY
DEGRADE THE AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EXISTING LIGHTING DESIGN;
(C) SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS SPORTS
FACILITIES, TUNNELS, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, NAVIGATION LIGHTING,
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AIRPORTS, UNDERBRIDGE LIGHTING, NATURAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS, OR FLAG
LIGHTING; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ALL SUCH LIGHTING SHALL BE SELECTED
AND INSTALLED TO SHIELD THE LAMP OR LAMPS FROM DIRECT VIEW AND TO MINI-
MIZE UPWARD LIGHTING AND GLARE TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE; AND
(D) SITUATIONS WHERE A WRITTEN DETERMINATION WITH FINDINGS HAS BEEN
MADE THAT A SPECIFIED EXEMPTION TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
THIS SECTION IS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE FOR A COMPELLING SAFETY INTER-
EST THAT CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED BY ANY OTHER METHOD. WHERE THIS
EXEMPTION IS FOR A STATE AGENCY OR STATE PUBLIC CORPORATION, THE WRITTEN
DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE AGENCY
OR CORPORATION OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE. WHERE THE EXEMPTION IS FOR A
COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, OR VILLAGE, OR A PUBLIC CORPORATION THEREIN, THE
WRITTEN DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE BY THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY EXECUTIVE,
MAYOR, SUPERVISOR, OR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE.
4. THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTA-
TION AND THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES AND GIVING CONSIDERATION TO THE
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES ADOPTED BY THE ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF
NORTH AMERICA, SHALL ESTABLISH RULES TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION, INCLUDING A SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT THE USE OF STATE FUNDS FOR
STREET LIGHTING COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN AND
SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE WIDE DISSEMINATION OF THIS INFORMATION.
5. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, SHALL DEVELOP LUMINAIRE EFFICIENCY
AND LAMP LUMINOUS EFFICACY STANDARDS FOR LIGHTING REGULATED UNDER THIS
SECTION. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION "LUMINAIRE EFFICIENCY" SHALL MEAN
THE PERCENTAGE OF LUMENS GENERATED BY A LAMP WHICH ACTUALLY LEAVE A
LUMINAIRE; AND "LAMP LUMINOUS EFFICACY" SHALL MEAN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT
GENERATED BY A LAMP/BALLAST SYSTEM (IN LUMENS) DIVIDED BY THE POWER IT
USES (IN WATTS). SUCH STANDARDS SHALL BE PROMULGATED ON OR BEFORE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE AND SHALL TAKE EFFECT ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY
DAYS AFTER SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE.
6. IN RECOGNITION OF THE ONGOING RESEARCH INTO AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIELD, THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTA-
TION WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
SHALL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING NEW FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH AND
NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAY AFFECT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. SUCH
REPORTING MAY INCLUDE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE TO INCREASE
ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PURPOSES OF ACHIEVING HEALTHY,
SAFE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT OUTDOOR LIGHTING.
S 20-0109. DARK-SKY PRESERVES.
1. THE COMMISSIONER IN CONSULTATION WITH AFFECTED STATE AGENCIES AND
LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAY IDENTIFY AND NOMINATE AS "DARK-SKY PRESERVES"
AREAS OF THE STATE WHICH ARE ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR ASTRONOMICAL OBSER-
VATIONS AND/OR WHICH PROVIDE, DUE TO THEIR DARKNESS, NOCTURNAL BENEFITS
TO FLORA AND FAUNA, OR TO CITIZENS DESIRING VIEWS OF UNPOLLUTED OR RELA-
TIVELY UNPOLLUTED NIGHT SKIES.
2. WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS OF THE NOMINATION OF THE FIRST DARK-SKY
PRESERVE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL A PROPOSED PLAN TO PRESERVE THESE
AREAS AS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE TO PROTECT ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS
AND/OR FLORA AND FAUNA.
S 20-0111. MODEL COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING ORDINANCE.
THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE
COMMISSIONERS OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES,
SHALL PREPARE OR CAUSE TO BE PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED TO CITIES, TOWNS
A. 751 5
AND VILLAGES A MODEL COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING ORDINANCE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF SAVING ENERGY, REDUCING UNNECESSARY GLARE AND REDUCING UNNEC-
ESSARY SKY GLOW.
S 20-0113. INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLET.
THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND GIVING CONSIDERATION TO THE
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES ADOPTED BY THE ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF
NORTH AMERICA, SHALL DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE TO EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND
EVERY ELECTRIC CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY PROVIDING ELECTRIC SERVICE IN
THIS STATE A PAMPHLET CONTAINING INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS ARTICLE WITH RESPECT TO OUTDOOR LIGHTING.
S 20-0115. APPLICABILITY.
1. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE ARE CUMULATIVE AND SUPPLEMENTAL AND
SHALL NOT APPLY WITHIN ANY COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY THAT, BY ORDINANCE OR
RESOLUTION, HAS ADOPTED PROVISIONS RESTRICTING LIGHT POLLUTION THAT ARE
AS, OR MORE, STRINGENT THAN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
2. NO PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS TO PERMIT THE
PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE AS SUCH PRACTICE IS DEFINED IN SECTION SEVEN-
TY-THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR THE PRACTICE OF ENGINEER-
ING AS SUCH PRACTICE IS DEFINED IN SECTION SEVENTY-TWO HUNDRED ONE OF
THE EDUCATION LAW.
S 2. Section 44 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. THE COMMISSION SHALL REQUIRE EVERY ELECTRIC CORPORATION OR MUNICI-
PALITY PROVIDING ELECTRIC SERVICE TO SEND TO EACH CUSTOMER IN ITS BILLS
A COPY OF THE INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLET RELATING TO OUTDOOR LIGHTING DEVEL-
OPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
20-0113 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW. THE COMMISSION SHALL
COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION TO ENSURE
THAT EVERY ELECTRIC CORPORATION AND MUNICIPALITY PROVIDING ELECTRIC
SERVICE SHALL RECEIVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SUCH PAMPHLETS SUITABLE FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO ITS CUSTOMERS IN THEIR UTILITY BILLS.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date upon which it shall have become a law; provided, however,
that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation or development of any standards necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be
made and completed on or before such effective date; and provided
further that on and after the date on which this act shall have become a
law every state agency and public corporation shall comply with the
requirements of paragraphs (a) through (e) of subdivision 1 of section
20-0107 of the environmental conservation law as added by section one of
this act, but provided further that this act shall not apply to projects
for the installation or replacement of permanent outdoor luminaires
which have already received final design approval prior to the effective
date of this act.