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<br />cruipter 1- Background
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<br />In June 1971, as a result of growing concern of. the
<br />increasing number of weather modification projects in the
<br />state and the inadequacy of the current statute, the
<br />Colorado Legislative Council appointed a committee to
<br />eX8I"Dine problems associated with weather modification in
<br />the state. As a result. of Legislative Council
<br />recommendations to the Committee, the Colorado Weather
<br />Modification Act of 1972 was enacted by the General
<br />Assembly. The statute established a ten member advisory
<br />committee to offer advice as requested to the Executive
<br />Director of the DNR. It required that a permit be issued for
<br />each project in addition to directing that anyone performing
<br />weiltner mo.dification activities. have. a valid. license. It.also
<br />required publication of proposed project plans, and
<br />provided that public hearings be conducted in the affected
<br />area. The act empowered the Executive Director to set
<br />operation limits to modify or suspend the project when
<br />warramed.
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<br />In 1979, the Colorado Weather Modification Act was
<br />amended as a result of increased concern over possible
<br />illegal cloud seeding activity. The penalty for conducting
<br />illegal weather modification was changed from a
<br />misdemeanor to a Class V felony. Illegal seeding was
<br />defined as operating without the required license and
<br />permit or contracting with an unlicensed or permitless
<br />weather modifier.
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<br />In 1987, the Executive Director of the DNR delegated
<br />statutory authority for management of the state's weather
<br />modification program to the Director of the Colorado Water
<br />Conservation Board. Weather modifiers continue to be
<br />managed under the Board.
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