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FINDINGS <br />1. New daily mapping of snowpack suspension criteria by the NRCS Snow Survey Program in <br />Colorado has been around since 2007 and was discussed at the public hearing. The CWCB, the <br />Permit Holder, and the Project Sponsors will use this mapping to aid in making decisions about <br />when to suspend cloud seeding operations as further explained in the permit. § 36- 20- 108(5)(c), <br />C.R.S. (2010) <br />2. The permit application review fee of $100.00 has been paid by WWC by check Number 7346 <br />dated June 16, 2010. § 36- 20- 112(1)(b), C.R.S. (2010) <br />3. LLC provided proof of financial responsibility by showing that it is covered by a commercial <br />insurer with general liability in the amount of $1 million through the Essex Insurance Company. <br />Proof of current insurance naming all project sponsors as additional insured entities is a condition <br />of the permit. § 36- 20- 112(c), C.R.S. (2010) <br />4. Lawrence M. Hjermstad, President of WWC submitted the application for a Colorado weather <br />modification permit and complete operational plan 30 days prior to the public hearing to give the <br />CWCB time to review the application, operational plan, and supporting documents. § 36-20 - <br />112(d), C.R.S. (2010) <br />5. The public hearing was properly noticed as a "continuous program in the target area counties and <br />the immediately adjacent counties for two consecutive weekends prior to the public hearing. This <br />is documented in Exhibits M. § 36- 20- 112(e), C.R.S. (2010) <br />6. Lawrence M. Hjermstad, President of WWC is the person in charge of the project and he <br />provided adequate evidence of his qualifications of professional education in the field of <br />conducting weather modification operations in the State of Colorado. § 36- 20- 112(g), C.R.S. <br />(2010) <br />7. The CWCB held a public hearing on July 12th at 12:00 PM at the Pagosa Water and Sanitation <br />District Offices. The public hearing was not more than one week following the completion of <br />publication. The public hearing was attended in person by: CWCB staff member Joe Busto, Susan <br />Schneider of the AGO. § 36- 20- 112(2), C.R.S. (2010) <br />8. The proposed project is a "ground based winter cloud seeding" project intended to be operated <br />from November lst through March 31St of each year, starting in 2010 § 36 -20- 104(2.5), C.R.S. <br />(2010) <br />9. The proposed project is a commercial project and should be assessed a 2% commercial fee that <br />will be paid to the CWCB at the end of each cloud seeding season. The commercial fee is 2% of <br />the yearly contract between the Permit Holder and Project Sponsors. The commercial fee is used <br />by the CWCB to maintain a permitting and monitoring program, fund studies, and evaluate <br />operations and their potential affects. § 36 -20- 113(1), C.R.S. (2010) <br />10. The CWCB has authority to and requires WWC for the Eastern San Juan Mountains cloud <br />Seeding Program and North American Weather Consultants for the Gunnison River Basin Cloud <br />Seeding Program, collaborate on a regional snowpack analysis using long term NRCS SNOTEL <br />5 <br />