Keesler Air Force Base Outdoor Lighting
ISSUE
LG‐5
Lighting from Keesler AFB along Irish Hill Drive
illuminates outside the installation creating light
pollution in the community.
Light systems that are unshielded and / or lighting systems that are not
planned with considerations for minimizing sky glow or excess light
emissions on the installation can contribute to an increased amount of
ambient light in the sky. Lighting from the installation particularly affects
the community that is located on Irish Hill Drive, which is directly south of
the installation.
Within the installation there are at least four types of
lighting that are situated near the perimeter of the
installation. On the south perimeter of the installation,
Ploesti Drive is lined with street lights that are not shielded.
There are over 30 of these lights that extend from the west
end of the installation, along Ploesti Drive up to where
Ploesti Drive turns into M Street. These light poles have a
height that is greater than the fence, but are generally
pedestrian scaled. These light poles are located about 50 to
70 feet from the Keesler AFB fenceline. There is a project
scheduled for May 2017 that will replace these existing
lights with LED fixtures.
In addition to the lights that are located along Ploesti Drive,
there are parking lots that are located on the south end of
the installation that have light poles that are taller in height. These lights are
shielded downward, directed on the parking lot. The closest of these lights
to the Keesler AFB fenceline are positioned about 80 feet from the
fenceline.
Background Report
There are light fixtures located on three basketball courts
and three volleyball courts on Ploesti Drive that are
unshielded. These lights are about the same height as the
parking lot lights, are affixed with two lights for each pole,
and are angled upwards. Each court has about six light
poles, totaling 12 lights per court. The closest of these lights
to the Keesler AFB fenceline is positioned about 200 feet
from the fenceline.
Also along Ploesti Drive are two softball fields that have
unshielded flood lights. There are about 16 of these light
poles surrounding both fields. Each light pole is affixed with
four flood lights, totaling over 60 lights. The closest of these
lights to the Keesler AFB fenceline is positioned about 200
feet from the fenceline. Keesler AFB has realigned the lights
on the softball fields.
Although there are many instances of unshielded lighting on the installation
that can affect the community along Irish Hill Drive, there is also unshielded
lighting along Irish Hill Drive in Biloxi that also has the potential to affect
residents. This lighting is located along Irish Hill Drive, both on the north and
south side of the street. There are types of lighting on both sides of the
street that are not shielded.
In addition there is some unshielded lighting at the Biloxi Junior High School
that lights the tennis courts and field adjacent to Irish Hill Drive.
Compatibility Assessment
The Department of Defense’s Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 3‐530‐01 is the
instruction manual for DoD installations regarding interior and exterior
lighting systems. This UFC establishes guidelines and instructions for the
DoD to renovate, construct, budget, and maintain the lighting systems on its
installations. The utmost goal and priorities for both the exterior and
interior lighting systems is:
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