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<br />Initiation and Preoperational Phases. Based on experience regarding <br />the lack of environmental impacts during these preliminary instrumen- <br />tation, data collection, and analysis periods in all previous <br />Skywater field activities, it is expected these phases of the proposal <br />will qualify under the "categorical exclusion" provisions of Water <br />and Power Instructions (reference Draft Instructions 376.2.C(2)(m), <br />the Departmental Manual, and CEQ Regulations). <br /> <br />Operational Phase. The San Juan operational program will require a <br />formal Section 102.2(C) Environmental Impact Statement to fully <br />evaluate downstream effects of increased streamflow and water use <br />in addition to the onsite effects normally discussed in research <br />mode environmental evaluations. The final draft of this statement <br />will be completed after the operational design is available. The <br />timeframe for review of a draft Environmental Impact Statement, <br />and preparation, review, and filing a Final Environmental Statement <br />can extend from 6 to 18 months depending upon the complexity of the <br />document and its degree of controversy. <br /> <br />A detailed work plan to meet environmental and social evaluation <br />requirements, including inhouse and public scoping meetings, will <br />be prepared following approval of this proposal. <br /> <br />Public Involvement, Community Response, and Education <br /> <br />The Weather Modification Advisory Board Report ~/ states: <br />"Experience to date indicates a clear need for information and <br />education programs if weather modification is to be accepted and <br />used effectively. These, again, are legitimate costs to be weighed <br />against benefits of the particular weather-modification technology <br />concerned." <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The public can be expected to view the entry of the Federal <br />Government into operational precipitation management as an action <br />of major and significant environmental and social impact. The <br />program may be controversial in some areas. The extent and degree <br />of the program's controversy will directly relate to, and diminish <br />in proportion to, the effectiveness of the project's public <br />involvement and education program (reference Regulations for <br />Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental <br />Policy Act, 40 CFR Parts l500-1508, and Water and Power Draft <br />Instructions 362.5.6.D., Public Involvement in Decisionmaking). <br /> <br />A large portion of the general public views weather modification in <br />either of two extremes: as not effective, or as inevitably <br />producing undesirably large increases in precipitation. Public <br />access to and participation in project environmental and societal <br /> <br />VII-2 <br />