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2003 Action Alert: House Bill 09

Help Save our Night Skies
Light Pollution prevention bill SF 49 in front of Senate Committee Tuesday.
PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL SENATORS LISTED BELOW TODAY! THANK YOU!

There is some good news when it comes to fighting light pollution in Wyoming. Senator Cale Case (R-Lander) has introduced a bill, SF 49, "Outdoor Lighting," that will be considered by the Wyoming Senate Committee on Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions tomorrow morning (Tuesday, January 21) at 8:15 AM. Please call (307) 777-VOTE today and/or e-mail the legislators listed below and ask them for their support of this important legislation. SF 49 is a non-regulatory bill that would empower local governments to pass ordinances to address light pollution problems if they so desire.

Please remind these Senators how important this bill is for Wyoming's future and for citizens' quality of life. Wyoming's vast and limitless night skies are just part of what makes this state so wonderful! But poor planning around many of our communities and increased development throughout our state is threatening our night skies.

You may also want to remind these legislators that SF 49 is just as much about good government as it is about environmental quality, as it empowers cities, towns and county commissions to deal with the issue of light pollution in an effective and practical manner.

Phone Messages and/or E-mails
Please call toll-free (866) 996-VOTE (8683) and leave a message for the following legislators or e-mail them and ask for their support of SF 49! If you can not call the VOTE hotline during the day, e-mail them instead, or please call this evening and leave a message at the personal Cheyenne number if one is listed by the Senator's name. Since the Committee meeting is on Tuesday morning, it is important that the Senators get these messages by this evening or early on Tuesday morning (for e-mails). In addition, please ask these legislators to vote yes on SF 48, a companion bill that would allow electric customers to choose lighting fixtures designed to minimize light pollution and maintain dark skies.

Whom to Contact
Senate Corporations Committee members are:

Sen. Curt Meier (R-Lagrange), Chair, E-mail: none Personal number- none listed

Sen. Cale Case (R-Lander) ccase@wyoming.com

Sen. Mike Massie (D-Laramie) mmassie@senate.wyoming.com

Sen. Charlie Scott (R-Casper) Personal Number: Hitching Post, (307) 638-3301

Sen. Kathryn Sessions (D-Cheyenne) ksessions@senate.wyoming.com
Personal Number: (307) 634-8314

Background on SF 49
SF 49 clarifies that local towns, cities and counties have the authority to pass ordinances regulating outdoor lighting to limit light pollution. It is NOT a regulatory bill and does not require governing bodies to pass ordinances, but simply gives these bodies the authority to pass ordinances on this issue if they want to take such action.

Wyoming has some of the most beautiful night skies of any state in America. However, with increasing rural and urban development, our night-sky viewing opportunities are gradually being diminished. Light invasion affects privacy and the pleasantness of our homes and communities. In addition, light pollution disorientates migrating birds and waterfowl, stressing them during their long and difficult migrations.

Please, save our night skies, and help pass SF 49!

To view SF 49, please visit:
http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2003/Introduced/sf0049.pdf

To find your own elected legislators' E-mail addresses, if not among the above, visit the Wyoming Legislature's website at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/email/email.htm

Thank you for your help with this timely issue.

This action alert is distributed by the Wyoming Conservation Network, a cooperative project of Wyoming Conservation Voters, the Wyoming Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Wyoming Outdoor Council. You have received this mailing as a member or mailing-list recipient of one of the above organizations.Your e-mail address has not been exchanged with any organization to which you do not belong.

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