WMOD00532

• Title: The Rain Stimulation Campaign in Panama Summer 1983
• Date: 6/1/1984
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

Ap'pendiix A
F alcsimil,e of
A~lreement
E~etween
The Instituto de Recursos Hidraulicos y
Elec:trificacion
and
The Panama Canal Commission

This agreement is entered into by and between the Instituto de
Recursos Hidraulicos y E1ectrificacion, an autonomous agency of the
Republic of Panama (hereinafter called "IRHE"), and the Panama
Canal Commission, an executive agency of the United States of
America (hereinafter called the "Commission").

WHEREAS, the parties acknowledge and declare that the abnormally
low amount of precipitation recorded in the last six months has had a
significant adverse effect on the respective operations of the parties;
and

WHEREAS, a lack of water for hydropower has forced IRHE to order
a nationwide power cut-off for two hours each day, thus incon-
veniericing its users, and adversely affecting IRHE's financial con-
dition; and

WHEREAS, the decline in lake levels in and adjacent to the Canal
operating areas has forced the Commission to significantly reduce
the draft requirements for vessels transiting the Canal, thus affecting
the shipping industry and increasing the costs of transporting goods
over trade routes served by the Panama Canal; and

WHEREAS, weather modification procedures are recognized as hav-
ing a significant basis which has progressed beyond basic explora-
tion; and

WHEREAS, these procedures have been used in many areas of the
world without jeopardizing life or property; and

WHEREAS, the United States' Bureau of Reclamation has an estab-
lished proven weather modification program,

NOW therefore IRHE and the Commission do hereby agree as
follows:

1. IRHE and the Commission shall undertake a joint weather modifi-
cation project; to wit, the seeding of clouds to enhance rainfall in
the Gatun, Madden and Bayano watersheds. Priority is equal
between the Commission watersheds (Gatun and Madden) and
the IRHE watershed (Bayano). Operations will ordinarily be con-
ducted where the clouds are most favorable. If an imbalance in
operations becomes obvious, an attempt will be made to equalize
efforts between the Commission and the IRHE watersheds.

2. IRHE hereby agrees:

(a) To use its best efforts to obtain approval from appropriate
authorities in the Government of Panama for the project and its
implementation and for the expeditious processing of document,
ation required of the contractor by the Government of Panama;
however, IRHE cannot be responsible for delays or denials occa,
sioned by the actions of other authorities of the Government of
Panama;

(b) To arrange coordination among the parties, the contractor,
and agencies of the Government of Panama, especially the Direc-
cion Nacional de Recursos Naturales Renovables (RENARE)
and the Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario (MIDA);

(c) To serve as liaison for publicity, public affairs and public
relations through appropriate press releases; and

(d) To provide data regarding the Bayano Lake watershed and
surrounding area.

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