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<br />.. <br /> <br />Chapter 3 <br /> <br />'-""'~:':'~:""^"'=''':''':~ ':"''''''''''-~''''''''':'''::''::=''''''':: <br /> <br />...H.............._.................... <br />_..".__'''_...m''_'~.."..~..~ <br /> <br />". ' . <br />.,':" <br /> <br />'" <.. 1',>; -'"'J- u.:;";;-' <br /> <br />..m.. m..mw.w.mw;,'w ...mw......"'.m.m.'.'...'.w.mw;/.~.^WW. . .... . ..1?i:lrl~3.!3.. <br />. ,. . SUNSETA,NA&YSIS'ANDREQfJ}4MI?NDA'EION/;J. ...., <br /> <br />Should <br />Individuals <br />. Engaged in <br />Weather <br />Modification <br />be Licensed by <br />the State? <br /> <br />Under the current provision of the Weather Modification <br />Act the statute outlines a two phase approach to the <br />regulation of weather modification. The act ensures that <br />competent individuals performing weather modification are <br />operating in the state through a' licensing scheme. <br />Secondly, the act. also provides that individual weather <br />modification activities are performed safely in the targeted <br />areas through a permitting process. While the regulation <br />of weather modification is important to protect the public, <br />licensing of weather modifiers has not been demonstrated <br />as necessary. <br /> <br />- -PHblic - nea1th~ -safety -an-d- Warfare' is-sues - from - weather <br />modification activities are adequately addressed through <br />the permitting function of the Act. Danger' from an <br />unregulated weather modification community may result il, <br />increased snowpack when it was "not needed, cause in <br />increase in snow removal or make it difficult for wildlife to <br />feed itself. Through the mandatory reporting requirements <br />of weather modification activities and DNR's monitoring of <br />the snowpack' level, the permitting process provides <br />adequate protection of the public. This process also <br />provides the state with a central oversight agency among <br />any or all weather modification activities in the state. <br /> <br />Eliminating the licensing provision of the Act would not <br />have a significant impact on the public. The pubiic hearing <br />process required 'in the permit application allows the <br />citizens of the affected area to discuss information about <br />the process as well as the individuals who would be <br />operating the equipment. The hearing; coupled with DNR's <br />expertise in this field will be adequate to identify those <br />individuals who are not qualified to perform weather <br />modification oper<>li~--H -----~--._._.-.- <br />