The DoD Dark Sky Stewardship Act requires the Department of Defense to audit light pollution at military facilities and study how excessive lighting affects military operations and local wildlife. Within 18 months of passage, the Secretary of Defense must complete an audit of a representative sample of military installations, evaluate unnecessary or excessive lighting, and develop a plan to reduce light pollution that must be implemented within 6 months of the audit's completion. Concurrently, the Department must conduct a study examining how light pollution impacts military readiness and biodiversity, evaluate existing and new lighting mitigation technologies, and determine whether the military could establish "dark sky standards" for its facilities. The Secretary must submit findings and recommendations to four congressional committees within six months after completing the audit and study, including proposals for reducing unnecessary lighting and protecting nearby ecosystems without compromising military security or readiness. The legislation also allows the Department to establish pilot projects to test light pollution reduction strategies at military installations.
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