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What it is

Protects the night sky over the Canary Islands observatories

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

Type of initiative: . It was introduced on 15 October 1986. Introduced by: COMUNIDAD AUTONOMA DE CANARIAS - PARLAMENTO.

Official title: Private member's bill on the protection of the astronomical quality of the observatories of the Canary Institute of Astrophysics.

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Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 125/000006· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The law limits outdoor lighting, radio transmitters, and industries or activities that pollute the atmosphere on the island of La Palma, so they do not harm the sky quality of the observatories.
  2. Outdoor lights must avoid emitting light above the horizon, except those needed for air navigation, and must disturb astronomical observations as little as possible.
  3. Above 1,500 meters of altitude, polluting industries or activities that exceed the set limits cannot be installed. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias must also issue a report before licenses are granted for outdoor lighting, transmitters over 250 watts, and high-altitude installations.
  4. The law also protects the Tenerife observatories against new installations that degrade the sky, except for outdoor lighting. The State pays the local councils of La Palma for adapting existing public lighting.

Who it affects

  • Residents and businesses of La Palma: They must limit their outdoor lighting so it does not disturb the observatories.
  • Polluting industries and activities: They cannot be installed above 1,500 meters if they exceed pollution limits, and they need a report from the Institute for their license.
  • Radio transmitters: Those over 250 watts need a prior report from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.
  • Local councils of La Palma: The State subsidizes adapting their public lighting to the new rules.
  • Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias: It issues a mandatory report on license applications and can propose specific limits to the Government.

Words worth knowing

Informe preceptivo
A mandatory report that must be requested before making a decision, such as granting a license.
Servidumbre
A legal restriction on the use of land or an installation in favor of the public interest.
Corporaciones Locales
City councils and other public entities that govern municipalities.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced15 October 1986Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted21 October 1986The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendmentsno dateGroups propose changes.
  4. Committeeno dateA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenaryno dateAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senateno dateThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEno dateIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 2 official steps on a timeline
Oct 198611. 15 October 1986: Presentación22. 21 October 1986: Calificación

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

Published in the BOE: Law 31/1988, of October 31, on the Protection of the Astronomical Quality of the Observatories of the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

Read the full method · Report an error