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<br />Or. Ray Booker described the efforts of Airomet, Inc., toward developing an <br />operational plan for Oklahoma. He proposed that the project include seeding <br />every year for 10 years (with appropriate suspension criteria) to provide the <br />experience needed to evaluate the true effects of cloud seeding for drought <br />relief. He suggested that seeding only during recognized drought periods <br />would not be an effective way to use weather modification to mitigate drought- <br />related damages. A rigorous measurement program for pertinent variables <br />should be carried out, even in wet years, to provide the physical basis for <br />analysis and evaluation. The project could employ both cloud-base and <br />cloud-top seeding. Dr. Booker stated that randomization is essential for <br />the project, and the cloud, rather than the day, should be the experimental <br />unit. He recommended that separate contractors be selected for data collec- <br />tion, seeding, and evaluation. <br /> <br />Mr. Harold Springer described the institutional studies being undertaken by <br />the Oklahoma ~ater Resources Board. They include such legal aspects of <br />weather modification as Federal and State statutes, rules and regulations, <br />responsibilities, liabilities, lawsuits, and funding; educational efforts to <br />inform the pUblic and officials of Government and institutions; evaluation <br />considerations; environmental impacts; and variations in operations dictated <br />by the nature of the sponsoring agency (Government, private or a combination). <br /> <br />Texas <br /> <br />Mr. Stanley Kantrowitz of the Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental <br />Relations presented an overview of the Texas program. The objectives of the <br />effort are: (1) to conduct an institutional study that will identify an <br />efficient, organizational method for considering and initiating rain-augmentation <br />activities, if found to be feasible and necessary; and (2) to examine the <br />feasibility of using cloud seeding teChnology to lessen the effects of <br />drought on the Edwards Aquifer, and several other selected watersheds and <br />aquifer recharge areas within the State. <br /> <br />10 <br />