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B. Is reasonably expected to benefit the people in the area where the operation will be conducted. <br />Farmers can lease lands within the hail cannon network as well the presence of Southern <br />Colorado Farms brings the ability to keep crops cool before they are shipped to the market. [§ <br />36-20-112 (3) (b)] . <br />C. The scientific and technical feasibility of hail cannons are questionable. However, hail <br />cannons are in operation and have been in operation in California, Texas, Colorado, and other <br />states to protect delicate crops like spinach, lettuce, peaches, etc. In an effort to determine the <br />efficacy and any potential negative effects of the hail cannon operations the CWCB will asssit <br />with an require Southern Colorado Farms to continue to collect rain and hail data and pay the <br />costs to automate instrumentation for rain and hail data collection that should both benefit <br />Southern Colorado Farms and citizens concerned about the possible negative effects of hail <br />cannons § 36 -20 -108 (5). <br />D. Does not involve a high degree of risk of substantial harm to land, people, health, safety, <br />water rights or the environment. The extra area effects are defined as precipitation influences <br />positive and negative inside and outside of the target areas. These were stated but are not <br />scientifically proven. The CWCB will continue to require instrumentation and data collection <br />from Southern Colorado Farms and use the CSU Colorado Climate Center and an independent <br />party to report on rain and hail data collection periodically throughout the life of the permit. § <br />36 -20 -112 (3) (e). <br />E. Includes adequate safeguards to prevent substantial damages to land property, water rights, <br />people, health, and the environment. Hail cannons fire a sound wave, so the major known <br />environmental impact is noise pollution. Mitigation is achieved by placing bails of hay around <br />the cannons to dampen the noise at ground levels. Sound engineer reports were provided <br />from 2005 that show a tolerable level of noise is generated. § 36 -20 -112 (3) (f). <br />F. Will not adversely affect another weather modification project. There are no other weather <br />modification operational projects in the area that will be affected. § 36 -20 -112 (3) (g). <br />G. Is designed to minimize risk and maximize economic benefits to the residents of the area. As <br />stated above in the CWCB and Southern Colorado Farms have a continuing obligation to <br />work together and collect data on the "extra area effects" of hail cannons. § 36 -20 -112 (3) (h). <br />FINAL DECISION <br />Because the evidence shows that the proposed project meets the requirements of section 36 -20 -112, it is <br />hereby determined that the permit is approved with the following conditions that are further described in the <br />Permit itself.. <br />1. The Permit shall be renewed for one year from the date of issuance for up to a five year period. <br />Under section 36- 20- 114(1), a separate permit is required annually for each operation. The director <br />may conditionally approve a project in excess of one year's duration, but such permits must be <br />renewed annually. § 36 -20- 114(2). In approving the renewal of a permit for a continuous program, <br />the director may waive the procedures for initial issuance of the permit. § 36 -20- 114(2). The State <br />of Colorado, through the CWCB, approves the hail cannon permit based on the provision that <br />Southern Colorado Farms agrees to fund and participate in five years of data collection and analyses <br />of the hail cannons. In order to determine the effects of hail cannons, they must be in operation. Any <br />10 <br />