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Last modified
7/28/2009 2:34:07 PM
Creation date
4/11/2008 3:44:32 PM
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Template:
Weather Modification
Title
Guidelines for Cloud Seeding to Augment Precipitation
Date
1/1/1995
Weather Modification - Doc Type
Report
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<br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />guidance and restraints concerning cloud seeding assure fair balance <br />between opportunities to advance individual and group desires and <br />concerns, and the need to consider the rights of the remainder of society. <br />Proposals to seed clouds have resulted in identification of a wide range <br />of environmental issues including potential effects on cultural resources, <br />erosion rates, duration of snowmelt, and contributions to the "green- <br />house effect." The development of Environmental Impact Statements <br />(EISs) and Reports have been necessary in some cases. Some early envi- <br />ronmental concerns focused on the seeding agent, i.e., the ice crystal <br />nucleant, AgI (silver iodide). Heavy metals occur in nature and residual <br />silver from seeding is normally produced in concentrations far below <br />toxic levels. Clearly, this is only one of many environmental aspects of <br />cloud seeding. Further, it should be recognized that the effects of added <br />water on the environment can be positive as well as negative. Organiza- <br />tions that undertake operational cloud seeding should be prepared to <br />invest the considerable time and costs of preparing EISs (particularly if <br />the technology is applied on public lands) as well as the subsequent costs <br />of environmental monitoring during operations. <br />Awareness of public concerns, a responsive and well-guided public <br />involvement program, a corresponding decision process, and on-going <br />evaluation of both the direct and indirect effects will provide many <br />appropriate checks and balances as a cloud seeding program is brought <br />from concept to application. <br />Section 2, Economic, Environmental and Societal Aspects of Precipi- <br />tation Enhancement by Cloud Seeding, explores facets of technology <br />and presents solutions that have been developed through extensive <br />studies. <br />Legal considerations apply to atmospheric water development imple- <br />mentation decisions in the same way that they apply to the development <br />of any other part of the hydrologic cycle. As a means for avoiding misap- <br />plication of the technology by enthusiastic but poorly qualified individu- <br />als, or by groups focusing narrowly on special interests benefits, or in <br />uncontrolled, unmonitored, or conflicting projects, a legal system has <br />gradually been developed for controlling the application of the technol- <br />ogy. There have been suits against cloud seeders, and many states have <br />regulatory laws in place. Licensing, permitting, and reporting may be <br />required. A United States (U.S.) law requires that persons carrying out <br />weather modification activities report them. <br />Section 3 examines the Legal Aspects of Weather Modification Opera- <br />tions. The appendix to the section provides an updated list of current <br />state statutory and regulatory references on weather modification. <br />The startup and continuation of a cloud seeding program will most <br />likely depend not only on the viability of the technology, but also on <br />the perceptions of the benefits and liabilities as derived from the <br />whole economic, environmental, social, and legal process, the diligence <br />with which effects are monitored, and how well public involvement is <br />maintained. <br />
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