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<br />FY 1979 funds were allocated to advance the planning and research <br />program with emphasis on sharpening the scientific objectives, <br />developing operational implementation procedures, and providing <br />thorough public reviev of project plans. <br /> <br />PlanninK and Preparation Activities <br /> <br />The Service conducted the Colorado River Basin Pilot Project in the <br />San Juan Mountains of Colorado from 1970 to 1975. Project results <br />indicated the need for further technology verification and improve- <br />ment before a large augmentation program could be undertaken. The <br />Secretary requested that a program be planned for veather modifica- <br />tion in the Basin. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) <br />reviewed the initial budget requests for the program in December <br />1976, and stated: <br /> <br />"Before a demonstration Atmospheric Water Resources Management <br />Program is initiated the folloving must be accomplished: <br /> <br />-The Secretary of Commerce's report on the Federal role in <br />atmospheric research must be compLeted. <br /> <br />-An Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. <br /> <br />-A definite plan must be developed for the la-year <br />demonstration program. <br /> <br />-Alternative options must be developed for cost sh&ring <br />vith the seven Basin states." <br /> <br />The Weather Modification Advisory Board, appointed by the Secretary <br />of Commerce in response to congressional directives, transmitted <br />its report to Commerce on June 30, 1978, as a first step toward <br />meeting OMB's criteria. A major conclusion of the Board's <br />14-month investigation stated: <br /> <br />"In tenDS of scientific and technological underpinning, and <br />in consideration of probable high economic value, it is the <br />judgment of this Board that seeding winter orographic <br />storms to increase the amount of snov in the high mountain- <br />ous watersheds of the West is the most advanced--and <br />closest to significant, broad-scale operational use--of <br />all cloud-seeding possibilities. A successful confirm- <br />atory experiment--including. of course, provision for <br />assessing the seeding results--must be completed before <br />large-scale seeding of winter orographic storms is <br />considered to be an acceptable tool, available to vater- <br />resource decision makers. <br /> <br />Il-4 <br />