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40 CLOUD SEEDING Given all of the above, the science and practice of weather modification has commonly been regarded as controversial, although most projects have been conducted with little or no controversy. 2.4.6 Public Participation Procedures Where public policy decisions are involved, the 1990 CSU study offers some recommendations for public participation procedures to those re- sponsible for cloud seeding projects. Following these procedures does not guarantee that communities will be accepting or even tolerant of a proposed action; however, they should prevent the formation of organ- ized opposition. Decision processes that promote public participation create a climate in which the community is satisfied with the decision on whether to go forward with the project. Community members themselves should agree with the decision processes employed. If they believe these processes to be fair, equitable, and responsive to community needs and concerns, they are more likely to accept the decisions resulting from them. Taking the time to receive and respond to public input contributes to a more socially acceptable outcome. Steps that project managers can take to reach this outcome are noted in Table 2.4. Reaching decisions about implementing cloud seeding projects using public participation practices is initially more costly than not taking this approach. Yet if these accommodations are not made, projects may not occur at all, or they may be discontinued later. The investment in public and community involvement should payoff in a higher quality project designed in a way that specifically meets local needs and con- cerns and is adopted in a way that community members accept. Policy decisions made within such a framework offer the best possibilities for success. TABLE 2.4 Actions Managers Can Take to Foster Project Acceptance . Regard proposed projects as pilots and provide time to learn from implementing them. . Involve community stakeholders and local organizations with high credibility. . Form citizen review committess, keep them apprised, and listen to them. . Convey accurate and complete information to the public, repetitively, through familiar and trusted channels. . Explain limitations in knowledge or technique. . Identify any potential risks and their magnitude, and develop mitigation strategies. . Alert the citizen group and the public to anticipated problems and enlist community members to devise solutions. . Listen to feedback, acknowledge it, and modify project design accordingly. . Continue work with the community during the project's implementation. . Build evaluation components into the project and provide feedback to the citizen group and the public on actual project effects.