Mr. Phil Smith 
SBInet Chief Engineer
Secure Border Initiative
Arlington, Virginia 22209

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for your positive response.

Perhaps we can start by my outlining concerns I am aware of for
southern Arizona observatories and staff of other border state
observatories may then add their specific concerns.

1.  Increased light in the night sky -- 

		a. One-half mile of stadium style lighting was added
at Yuma/San Luis last month.
		b. The lighting at Bisbee/Naco has been extended to
about 3.7 miles, increasing the number of light poles from 19 to 92.
		c. The Border Patrol has plans to build a permanent
checkpoint on Interstate 19 at the highway's closest approach to the
Whipple and MMT Observatories.

With regard to outdoor lighting, the greatest damage is done by light
which leaves a lighting fixture above the horizontal plane.  This
light goes directly to the night sky, overwhelming the starlight we
try to study, and does no lighting work.  Not only does the uplight
not help anyone to see, it can create blinding glare for an observer
and is a waste of energy.

Another consideration is the amount of light.  Even from the best
shielded lighting fixture, an average of 10 to 15 percent of the
downlight reflects off the ground and into the night sky.  Good
lighting practice is to light to the task.  That is, use as much light
as is needed, but no more.  The Outdoor Lighting Codes in areas
surrounding observatories recognize this by placing limits on the
overall amount of light that may be installed per acre.

The lighting experts on this email distribution can give you or your
staff as much specific information about lighting fixtures and design
as you wish.

2.	Radio emissions --
		1. The tethered aerostat (airborne radar) at
Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., long-ago modified its transmission pattern to
avoid interfering with radio telescopes at the Kitt Peak Observatory
site.  I have heard second-hand that the plans are in the works to
greatly increase the signal strength and possibly drop out the null
zones in its transmission.

If true, this would directly affect radio telescopes sited on Kitt
Peak and on Mount Graham.  If the signal strength is high enough, the
radio waves could cause interference with the cameras and other
electronics on optical telescopes as well.  Because of this, the
NEXRAD weather radar located east of the Whipple and MMT Observatories
blinks off its transmission when pointing at the observatories on Kitt
Peak, Mt. Graham and Mt. Hopkins.


The list here only describes the nature of our concerns.  We do not
know the scope of SBI projects and, at this stage, you may not know
either.  No matter, we do wish to work with you so that you can
accomplish your task with the least harm to ours.  Please let us know
the best way to proceed.

Regards,

Dan Brocious
Smithsonian Institution
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory