Weather Mod - Sunset Review

• Project Type: General OWC
• Applicant: Weather Modification
• Project Name: Sunset Review on Weather Mod Program
• Title: Sunset Statutory Evaluation Criteria
• Date: 6/16/1995
• County: Statewide
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Final Report

duration of five years for the second permit and ten years for the third or subsequent
permit,

4. eliminate the requirement that proof of financial responsibility be provided in a weather
modification permit application,

5. require that the qualification, education, and experience of the weather modification
operator be provided in the weather modification permit application,

6. eliminate the requirement that the Executive Director determine that a commercial weather
modification project be conceived to provide and offer promise of providing an economic
benefit before a permit may be issued,

7. eliminate the requirement that. the Executive Director detennine that a scientific or
research project be designed for and offer promise of expanding knowledge and
technology of weather modification before a permit may be issued,

8. change the pennit fee imposed for a conunercial operation from 2% of the value of the
contract for the project to an amount set by the director that is-sufficient to cover the costs
of application review, hearings, and monitoring,

9. repeal the requirement that certain information be contained in reports filed by the
weather modification operators, and

10. authorize the Executive Director to promulgate rules requiring weather modification
operators to file reports.

The CWCS staff cooperated with the Department of Regulatory Agencies staff in preparing their
recommendations to the sunset committee. We also testified at the sunset review hearings.

The staff believes the existing program provides a minimal level of monitoring at a relatively low
cost. In general, we support the changes with the following cornrnents:

The staff is concerned that the elimination of the licensing requirement from the statutes
as in No.1 above, might lead to an increase in operations being conducted by people who
are less than qualified. However, from No.5 above, we understand the cOffi!P:jttee
intended that qualifications for the person in charge of the project should be made part
of the permit application.

The staff is concerned that a ten year permit, as in No.3 above, is too long a period to
go without public input and information sharing. Current weather modification permits
for ground based winter operations have a period of five years following an initial public
hearing. Pennits for operations using aircraft have a one year period and may be renewed
up to 4 more years without a public hearing. The licensed operators have complained that
the public hearings, which they see as an added cost to the project, are not well attended.

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