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[DSLF] Digest Number 566



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There are 15 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: Hot LP update for NY
           From: Gary Citro <callisto@optonline...>
      2. 2 More on NYS
           From: Steve Davis <w2sgd@juno...>
      3. Re: DOT and FCO lighting
           From: Steve Davis <w2sgd@juno...>
      4. Northeast Astronomy Forum May 18th-19th
           From: "ultima2000_frank" <ck427@hotmail...>
      5. Fw: Light meter need
           From: "Bruce Mellen" <brucemellen@hotmail...>
      6. Re: Gas station canopies:  readings in Manchester, NH analysis
           From: "mike pelletier" <mikpel@hotmail...>
      7. Fwd: IDA Sections Meeting
           From: ctstarwchr@aol...
      8. Re: DOT and FCO lighting
           From: ctstarwchr@aol...
      9. Re: Fw: Light meter need
           From: "Maryann Arrien" <marrien@computer...>
     10. Wed, Jan 30 East Mountain Lighting Ordinance Meeting
           From: "David Penasa" <dpenasa@bplw...>
     11. RE: Fw: Light meter need
           From: "J. Delvin Armstrong, P.E." <del@softlite...>
     12. Re: Fw: Light meter need
           From: Barry Johnson <johnsonb@ivwnet...>
     13. Re: Re: DOT and FCO lighting
           From: Barry Johnson <johnsonb@ivwnet...>
     14. Caltrans lighting regs
           From: Steve Pauley <spauley@cox-internet...>
     15. Phil. Enquirer Article Jan 12
           From: Steve Pauley <spauley@cox-internet...>


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Message: 1
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 07:27:10 -0500
   From: Gary Citro <callisto@optonline...>
Subject: Re: Hot LP update for NY

 Steve Davis <w2sgd@juno...> wrote:
>>Check my web site.  This needs your immediate attention.
Those who show up for the vote control the destiny.
I have but one vote to give.<<

Steve Davis is a very bright individual who had much to do with getting the
LP awareness ball rolling in New York State, and even helped to get me into
the fold. He also has high principles about what must be in an LP law, which
is to be admired.
However, it must be known that while no dark sky people in NY like the
proposed ammendments, MOST of us at SELENE want to see the bill signed into
LAW as ammended as a first step toward reducing LP, and work on future
ammendments later, as has been done successfully in CT.
We do NOT feel we will have a better chance to get a bill stronger than
this, maybe EVER, if this bill is VETOED.
In fact, there is a very good possibility that the Governor will veto this
bill as AMMENDED!  If vetoed, we don't think it will be easy to pass an LP
bill again in the near future at least.

Therefore, most of the people at SELENE are calling for as many people as
possible to contact the Governor is SUPPORT of A5352 AND the ammendment to
that bill, A9757.
And quickly as possible, time runs out on Feb 8th, and the sponsors are
holding a press conference in Albany which we will attend in support on
Tuesday!
Any further discussions about the incremental nature of getting LP bills
passed and then ammended are welcome.

Gary Citro
www://selene-ny.org



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Message: 2
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 09:24:54 -0500
   From: Steve Davis <w2sgd@juno...>
Subject: 2 More on NYS

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/section.asp?category=O&newsdate=1/28
/2002&catDesc=Opinion

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Message: 3
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 10:28:05 -0500
   From: Steve Davis <w2sgd@juno...>
Subject: Re: DOT and FCO lighting

Bob Parks wrote:

<The "myth" that you refer to is based on an IESNA RP-8 standard for
average
illumination. The RP-8 recommends installation of poles/fixtures to
achieve
a 6 to 1 average illumination ratio....
However, as long as IESNA continues to specify this ratio, proponents of
FCO
have the difficult task of convincing lawmakers/DOT engineers that glare
reduction is more important. At some point it seems like we need to
convince
IESNA to revisit this ratio in the RP-8.>

Right on.  There is nothing sacred about 6:1.  It is a guideline.
An engineering tradeoff has to be made between uniformity and
glare reduction.  Team up RP-8 with TM-11. 

Every city streetlight engineer who made the switch to FCO will
tell you it is worth it despite any other consideration. - sd

________________________________________________________________
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Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.


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Message: 4
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 03:07:44 -0000
   From: "ultima2000_frank" <ck427@hotmail...>
Subject: Northeast Astronomy Forum May 18th-19th

New York State has been active with legislative Light Pollution bills 
the last few months.  So it's only fitting that NYS is the home of 
the best astronomy/telescope show!

May 18th-19th the 11th Annual Northeast Astronomy Forum is being held 
at Rockland Community College in Suffern, N.Y.  Many members here 
have attended, but many others may be new.

It's a great place to network with other Dark Sky activists and 
fellow astronomers.  Our featured speaker is comet hunter David Levy, 
of Shoemaker-Levy 9 fame.  Dozens of vendors, top-notch speakers and 
workshops, raffles and door prizes, and (new!) children's activities 
and planetarium shows.

We're hoping to make this our best attended NEAF yet.  The more 
successful NEAF, the more our club can do to assist light pollution 
efforts.

More info:    http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.htm




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Message: 5
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 07:55:45 -0500
   From: "Bruce Mellen" <brucemellen@hotmail...>
Subject: Fw: Light meter need

Can someone out here recommend a reasonably priced, calibrated light meter make/model - suitable for a code enforcement officer to use to look at compliance?

Thanks......Bruce


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




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Message: 6
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 08:28:04 -0500
   From: "mike pelletier" <mikpel@hotmail...>
Subject: Re: Gas station canopies:  readings in Manchester, NH analysis

Just FYI;  Here are some readings I took in Manchester NH: Mike in NH

Gas Station Lighting Analysis
For Manchester, NH


Using a SPER Scientific 840020 Light Meter, brand new, calibrated 11/2000, 
several readings were made at Manchester gas stations as seen below.  Note 
that the measurement levels are made in ‘Foot Candle’ units.

On the attached pages are the IESNA recommendations for outdoor lighting, 
specifically for gas stations. The maximum Foot Candle recommended is 10.  
However, note that in the specific situations in Manchester, the maximum 
recommended level is only 5 Foot Candles since the surrounding areas are 
dark.

The readings were made while standing under the gas station canopy as if 
fueling a car.  The readings were completed at night between 7:30-8:30 pm 
under moonless nights with light overcast in early March 2000.

Station		Location		Reading in Foot Candles

Citgo		Hanover/Rt93		25.1

Mega X		Queen City Ave.	        40.5

Citgo/7-11	Mammoth Road		65.0

Sunoco		Queen City Ave		32     (note this reading was done in August 2000 
with an older light meter. They have gone out of business since, but the 
lighting remains)

Mobile		Rt. 28/Wellington Rd    42.5

Citgo/7-11	Bridge/Maple St	        55.1

Sunoco		Amoskeag Bridge	        17.9

Texaco		McGregor St		78.7

Mobile		McGregor St.		81.4         This light was brightest recorded in the 
city.

Exxon		Granite St.		44.4

Mobile		2nd Street		44.3

Hess		Queen City Ave.	        40.5


-- end of analysis --



>From: <cbl@nofs....mil>
>Reply-To: DarkSky-list@yahoogroups...
>To: DarkSky-list@yahoogroups...
>Subject: [DSLF]  Gas station canopies
>Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 13:11:11 -0700
>
>
>I have two comments on this article:
>
>1) The statistical weakness of the customer survey and visitation
>investigation will leave room for some to question whether there are
>still strong marketing advantages of the glarey systems.
>
>2) Both drop-lens fixtures used in the investigation, both the LSI
>Scottsdale and the Ruud Constellation drop-lens, are NOT full cut-off
>and are NOT fully shielded.  The paper erroneously states that the
>latter is full cut-off.
>
>
>Three products were used in the test station: LSI Scottsdale, Ruud
>Constellation flat-lens, and Ruud Constellation with a drop lens.
>
>It is stated that the LSI Scottsdale is not full cut-off (which is
>certainly correct); that the flat-lens Ruud Constellation is full
>cut-off (it *may* be; we need information on the candlepower
>distribution at and above 80 degrees above nadir to decide - but it is
>certainly fully shielded); and that the drop-lens Ruud Constellation is
>full cutoff.  This last

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Message: 7
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:09:37 EST
   From: ctstarwchr@aol...
Subject: Fwd: IDA Sections Meeting

In a message dated 1/28/02 11:33:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, RLGent1 writes:


> Memo for all IDA Sections:
> 
> We hope to see you at the IDA annual meeting in Tucson, Arizona, USA, March 
> 17-19, this year.  Among many exciting activities, we are planning a 
> meeting of all sections on Tuesday afternoon March 19.  
> 
> One of our primary goals will be to improve service to all IDA sections.  
> If you have any ideas, please let us know.  Meeting topics will include a 
> review of the first draft of a "Section Handbook."  We plan to include:  
> IDA bylaws, "How to Get Started Hints," selected IDA information sheets, 
> Policies & Procedures, and other useful topics in protecting the nighttime 
> environment.  
> 
> Looking forward to seeing you at another energizing annual meeting!   PS:  
> Don't forget we are rapidly approaching the deadline for the IDA March 2002 
> newsletter.  Please contact NL Editor, Tim Poulsen, at poulsen@netacc... 
> if you have any articles.  The deadline is 5 February 2002.
> 
> Cheers from Italy, 
>              Bob Gent
>              Chair, IDA Sections Working Group and 
>              European Liaison Officer 
>              International Dark-Sky Association
>                         www.darksky.org 
>     ***************************************************************
>       Protecting the nighttime environment and preserving 
>    our heritage of dark-skies through quality outdoor lighting
> 
> cc:  




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




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Message: 8
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:37:43 EST
   From: ctstarwchr@aol...
Subject: Re: DOT and FCO lighting

In a message dated 1/26/02 3:48:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, fvas@shaw... 
writes:

> Cliff is there anything available that show's (from space) a before and
> after shot of Washington State?

Hi Paul:

There are none that I am aware of.  When I contacted NOAA in early 2000 the 
Director told me their DSMP biomass study program had concluded in the late 
1970s, however, the satellite used for that research is still up there 
collecting data.  This satellite was launched into orbit so scientists could 
discover more about the causes and effects of global warming.  The biomass 
study considered all kinds of things ranging from rotting vegetation to 
ground fires, to energy waste thrown to the sky from obtrusive outdoor 
lighting and many other influences.

The results coming back from this satellite are digital data streams rather 
than actual photographs from my understanding.  These are the some of the 
data that Cinzano, Falchi, Sullivan, et al have applied to their light 
pollution reports.  The interpolation of that data that has provided the very 
high quality images that we have all seen.

It would be great to see before and after effects, but that process takes an 
enormous amount of time to take effect.  For instance, I suspect that before 
Connecticut shows all FCO lighting on the roads the process of changeover 
will take at least 20 years, if not longer.  This is because the FCOs only 
get replaced when the old lights wear out and some have been in place 
chugging glare into the air since the 1960s!  

Also, it takes an enormous amount of time to interpolate the satellite data 
and generate an image from it.  Someone directly involved in this once told 
me it takes a couple of years for the whole process to be completed.  By the 
time an image is generated it is already out of date but it does provide a 
valuable record of the progression that is occurring.  The evaluation of many 
orbits is used to assemble a mosaic that does not include cloud covering and 
ground fires.  

How that information is determined and quantified is beyond the scope of my 
comprehension and those who are directly involved in this process can 
elaborate much better than I can.

Clear skies and good seeing,
Keep looking up!

Cliff Haas
Chair Light Pollution Education
Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford
http://members.aol.com/copernicanview

Light Pollution Awareness Website (LiPAW)
http://members.aol.com/ctstarwchr

Fight for your right to see stars in the night!
Join IDA Today!   http://www.darksky.org



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




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Message: 9
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 15:31:05 -0500
   From: "Maryann Arrien" <marrien@computer...>
Subject: Re: Fw: Light meter need

I still use my old Spectra Professional - just because I've owned it for 20+ years.  It is an analog meter that measures directly in footcandles when using the flat disc and no slides. It was $300 bucks. No battery needed.  You may need finer scales if you are measuring light trespass in your code, though.  Or you can use a spotmeter to solve for the trespass level in footcandles.

Check out this link I just found for Extech brand light meters:
http://www.zefon.com/analytical/measure/light/index.html
 They have some digital foot candle meters in the $69 - $169 range that run off of a 9v battery.  The heavy duty one has settings for HPS, etc.  Might be worth a look.  If you call them be sure to ask how well they perform in the 0-10 footcandle range. 

(Let us know how you make out.) 

Hope this helps a bit.
Maryann Arrien

(PS to the Dark Sky Listers:
Jump in there, you guys! -  so what is everybody else using?)








  Can someone out here recommend a reasonably priced, calibrated light meter make/model - suitable for a code enforcement officer to use to look at compliance?






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Message: 10
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 16:50:59 -0700
   From: "David Penasa" <dpenasa@bplw...>
Subject: Wed, Jan 30 East Mountain Lighting Ordinance Meeting

PLEASE FORWARD TO OTHERS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED

The 4th Steering Committee Meeting to review Bernalillo County's East
Mountain Lighting Ordinance is this Wednesday, January 30, 2002, 6:15 -
8:30 pm at Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras, NM.  (Previous
meetings were held May 24, Nov 13 and Dec 11.)

Agenda will include:
-county wide developments - role of steering committee
-discussion of suggested draft
- "The Worst Offenders" - how the Ordinance can and won't help

As discussed in previous meetings, the Committee is, based upon the
decision of the Zoning, Building, and Planning Department, only making
*recommendations* about Lighting Ordinance amendments.

For further information, please attend the meeting or call Catherine if
you wish to receive the draft materials.

Catherine VerEecke, Program Planner
Bernalillo Co./Albuquerque
(505) 924-3725
cvereecke@mercury....gov

-----------------------------------------------

For some background:

See p. 5 of the the Aug/Sept/Oct 2001 issue of La Vecindad (The
Neighborhood) News from the Bernalillo Co. Zoning, Building, and
Planning Department newsletter on the proposed revision to the East Mtn
Lighting Ordinance
http://www.bernco.gov/departments/zoning_building&planning/la_vecinda_08
012001.pdf

David
member of City of Albuquerque's Night Sky Protection Task Force

David A. Penasa, PE                   email: dpenasa@bplw...
Director of Electrical Engineering

****DESIGNING TO SHAPE THE FUTURE****
BPLW Architects & Engineers, Inc.
6200 Uptown Blvd. NE Suite 400
Albuquerque  NM  87110  USA
Phone: (505) 881-2759   Fax: (505) 881-1230
website: http://www.bplw.com



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Message: 11
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 16:08:31 -0800
   From: "J. Delvin Armstrong, P.E." <del@softlite...>
Subject: RE: Fw: Light meter need

To All:  I have used a Hagner Model S1 since the early 1970's.  It has a
remote, light sensitive silicon diode receptor, an analog output PLUS a
luminance meter.  It still continues to serve me as a reliable and
versatile meter.
I purchased a Hagner Model EC-1 hand held meter about 15 years ago and
it has proven more than adequate for most of my work.  The Cooke
Corporation handled the Hagner instruments in the earlier days and sold
me this meter originally.  They continue to support these instruments
and I recently had the EC-1 calibrated by this company.  The present day
equal to the EC-1 is shown on:
http://www.cookecorp.com/buyit/index.html   
It is the Cal Light 400 and I can heartily recommend this instrument.  
 
NEW SUBJECT: - Licensed Professional Engineers - Certified Lighting
Designers.
I have been following David Keith's and others input on this important
subject.  Several of us within the IESNA have worked over the years to
encourage the that organization to put a certification program in place.
It would be different than the "LC" designation now being offered by the
NCQLP.  The LC designation, as it is presently constituted, will not
work for the certification program.  It is a lengthy subject and I would
be pleased to lead a discussion during the upcoming IDA Annual
Conference if any of the attendees are interested.
 
Del Armstrong, P.E.
Armstrong Engineers, Inc.
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Maryann Arrien [mailto:marrien@computer...] 
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 12:31 PM
To: DarkSky-list@yahoogroups...
Subject: Re: [DSLF] Fw: Light meter need
 
I still use my old Spectra Professional - just because I've owned it for
20+ years.  It is an analog meter that measures directly in footcandles
when using the flat disc and no slides. It was $300 bucks. No battery
needed.  You may need finer scales if you are measuring light trespass
in your code, though.  Or you can use a spotmeter to solve for the
trespass level in footcandles.
 
>> Can someone out here recommend a reasonably priced, calibrated light meter make/model - suitable for a code enforcement officer to use to look at compliance?
 
{Moderator Trimmed Message - Please Trim Past Messages Before Posting}
 
 
 



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Message: 12
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 21:01:50 -0500
   From: Barry Johnson <johnsonb@ivwnet...>
Subject: Re: Fw: Light meter need

Bruce,
Here is an illuminance meter, that reads in
footcandles, that almost anyone can afford.
It's only $98, or $128 with NIST traceable
certificate of calibration.

Regards,
              Barry Johnson


http://www.technika.com/Sper/s840021.htm



Bruce Mellen wrote:

> Can someone out here recommend a reasonably priced, calibrated light meter make/model - suitable for a code enforcement officer to use to look at compliance?
>
> Thanks......Bruce
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> _________________________________________________
> To subscribe to the DarkSky List Forum send email
> to:  DarkSky-list-subscribe@yahoogroups...
>
> Help save your town from obtrusive lighting --
> invite your planning and zoning department to
> join us!  Ask them to visit the IDA website at
> http://www.darksky.org today!
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



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Message: 13
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 21:13:16 -0500
   From: Barry Johnson <johnsonb@ivwnet...>
Subject: Re: Re: DOT and FCO lighting

Dave,

Are there any studies of traffic safety experience comparing roads with
lighting engineered with FCO versus cutoff?

How about safety comparisons on roads before and after refitting with FCOs?

This information is an important piece of the puzzle.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows of such studies.


Regards,
               Barry Johnson



Dave DeSantis wrote:

> Hello guys,
>
> I have a slight correction for the link Cliff provided
> about the states using FCO cobraheads on their
> freeways/interstates. I checked out the link and the
> map shows California in white which means FCOs are not
> used on their freeways. I live here and I know that
> this is an error; Caltrans has been using sheilded
> lighting on their highways since the 1950s (first with
> glaresheilds, then they went to FCO in 1980 or 1981).
> And almost everything on their highways is FCO these
> days.
>
> Dave
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions!
> http://auctions.yahoo.com
>
> _________________________________________________
> To subscribe to the DarkSky List Forum send email
> to:  DarkSky-list-subscribe@yahoogroups...
>
> Help save your town from obtrusive lighting --
> invite your planning and zoning department to
> join us!  Ask them to visit the IDA website at
> http://www.darksky.org today!
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 14
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 21:51:25 -0700
   From: Steve Pauley <spauley@cox-internet...>
Subject: Caltrans lighting regs

Re: Calif. (Caltrans) fco lighting regs.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/chp9/chap9.htm#Section_12

Here are the Caltrans regs;  the lighting section for state highways.
It calls for *full cutoff*  hps lamps.  If fco state hwy. lighting is
good enough for a state of 34 million people, it
ought to be ok for everywhere else - at least for those
states who want their drivers to see the road.
Steve Pauley
====================================================

 From Traffic Manual Chapter 9
Section 9-12 - Luminaires
9-12.1 General
Normally, the luminaire for a new installation of safety lighting on State 
highways is a full-cutoff type using a high pressure sodium lamp.
9-12.2 Roadway Luminaires
On freeways, 200-watt lamps shall be used with 9.14 m mounting heights and 
310-watt lamps shall be used with 12.19 m mounting heights. On conventional 
highways and at the intersections of freeway ramps with surface streets, 
150-watt lamps may be used with either 9.14 m or 12.19 m mounting heights.
Utility owned semi-cutoff type luminaires should be provided with glare 
shields in rural areas.
9-12.3 Soffit Luminaires
Soffit luminaires are special fixtures either suspended from or 
flush-mounted into structures to illuminate the roadway under the 
structure. They shall be used with 70 or 100 watt high-pressure sodium 
lamps, depending upon lighting requirements. Normally, the fixtures should 
not be located over the traveled way on freeways.
9-12.4 Wall Luminaires
Wall luminaires are fixtures designed to be surface mounted on vertical 
surfaces. However, a simple right angle bracket permits mounting them from 
a horizontal surface such as the bottom slab of a box girder. They are used 
with the same lamps as soffit luminaires.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Message: 15
   Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 23:15:53 -0700
   From: Steve Pauley <spauley@cox-internet...>
Subject: Phil. Enquirer Article Jan 12

Not sure if this very good article re the
effects of light at night on human health
was ever posted.

Easing light's link to higher cancer risk
Colored lighting studied to reduce a potential hazard of night work.
By Marie McCullough
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2002/01/12/front_page/light12.htm

Steve Pauley

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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