Recommended Lighting Practices

A Collaborative Effort by the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the Texas Oil and Gas Association, the American Petroleum Institute, University Lands and the McDonald Observatory

Dark skies are critically important to the astronomy research undertaken by the University of Texas MacDonald Observatory. The natural gas and oil industry, in the Permian Basin of Texas, has recognized the key role it plays in reducing night light pollution – benefiting not only the Observatory but adding to the safety of its workers and surrounding communities.

In the fall of 2018, API joined with the members of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA), headquartered in Midland, Texas; the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA), headquartered in Austin, Texas; University Lands, headquartered in Houston, Texas; and the McDonald Observatory, located near Ft. Davis, Texas to formally endorse The Recommended Lighting Practices. The practices are specifically targeted at operations in the Texas counties of Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio, and Reeves to help protect the Observatory, but are equally beneficial across the industry.

Downloads

PBPA, TXOGA, API, MCD, UTL: Recommended Lighting Practices

File Size: 3.3 MB