SEDONA, Ariz., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The Arizona Dept of Transportation's installation of 108 street lights along two miles of SR 89A in Sedona, Arizona, 130 miles south of the Grand Canyon, threatens Sedona's "International Dark Sky Community" designation, according to Bob Parks, Executive Director of the International Dark Sky Association. 

In a letter to community residents dated February 9, Parks notes surprise "with the general lack of concern by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for providing a solution that will address the traffic safety concerns in an environmentally responsible manner."

Parks cites the 2010 CivTech report addressing safety on SR89A which, he says, "clearly identifies that the volume of traffic at night does not warrant Continuous Roadway Lighting by current IES RP-8 standards." He adds, "Continuous Roadway Lighting will significantly degrade the night sky, waste energy, increase greenhouse gases and saddle the community with substantial ongoing operating costs."

Parks describes an International Dark Sky Community as "a town, city, municipality, or other legally organized community that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of quality lighting codes, dark sky education, and citizen support of dark skies. . ." He adds that "the use of fully shielded lighting fixtures alone does not qualify lighting as dark sky friendly. When and how much lighting is used is also vitally important."

Finally, Parks says the fact that "the City of Sedona appears to be unable or unwilling to take the necessary measures to protect the night sky from future degradation would most likely cause the IDSP committee to reject an application for International Dark Sky Community status. IDSC status signifies a strong cooperation among all the parties responsible for the protection of the night sky. It would appear that this cooperation does not currently extend to ADOT, as they appear willing to install unwarranted lighting. This clearly impairs the community's ability to work collaboratively to preserve the quality of the night sky."

According to Marlene Rayner, Chair of the local Sierra Club chapter, "The community fought ADOT on the installation of continuous roadway lighting for 6 years and lost. With over 3 million visitors a year in Sedona, our dark skies are a national treasure that everyone should work to protect, including ADOT. Maybe folks from around the country and around the world can implore ADOT and Governor Jan Brewer to reconsider the lighting and work with the community to preserve our dark skies." For more information email marlene.rayner@sierraclub.org. 

Media Contact: Marlene Rayner, Sierra Club Sedona Verde Valley Chapter, 928-203-0340, marlenerayner@yahoo.com

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SOURCE Sierra Club Sedona Verde Valley Chapter

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