NIGHT SKY AND DARK ENVIRONMENTS: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT ON BLM-MANAGED LANDS TECHNICAL NOTE 457 3 • Improve outdoor lighting design for land use activities with artificial light to preserve natural night skies and dark environments as a component of providing a quality-built environment on BLMmanaged lands. This technical note is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person. 1.2 How to Use This Technical Note This technical note is divided into three main parts: • The first part (Section 2) introduces the subject of night sky and dark environments, in general and within the specific context of BLM-managed public lands. Section 2 further explores the scenic, historic, cultural, scientific, recreational, and ecological values of night skies, as well as the critical role that night skies and natural darkness play in proper ecosystem function, including the health and behavior of plants and animals. • The second part (Section 3) presents information about the relationship between artificial light and light pollution. Section 3 discusses causes of light pollution, the different types of light pollution, and the mechanisms by which light pollution affects humans, animals, and plants. Section 3 explores various ways that light pollution can affect socioeconomic and environmental resources, including scenic, historic, cultural, scientific, recreational, and ecological resources. • The third part (Sections 4 and 5) presents general outdoor lighting principles and specific BMPs. Section 4 introduces six principles of outdoor lighting that guide effective lighting design and use. These principles apply to any outdoor lighting scenario. Section 5 presents specific BMPs for lighting a range of facilities that occur on BLMmanaged lands. The BMPs are organized into sections that correspond to the six guiding principles of artificial light at night to minimize light pollution, along with a section associated with land use and project planning. Nighttime recreation in Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada.
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