Weather Mod - Controlling Activites Report

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Committee Procedures At the outset, the Committee recognized a need to meet several problems. For example, the Committee recognized it ~ dealing with a very controversial subject,--'a subject which has been made controversial by the vast number of un- substantiated claims made by weather modification in the last t~-nnty years, by ii\ lack of knowledge on the part of the pub- lic at large, and by the presence of a number of so-called "quacks" in the field. Generally, responsible weather modi- fiers and scientists agree that they are only now beginning to be able to provide solid objective answers to many of the scientific questions raised. Furthermore, the Committee's study was complicated by the fact that many of the current controversies over weather modification result from the str.ong beliefs and convictions of the people involved-- An eo. '\tTlple being, perhaps, the controversy existent in the San Lu~,; Valley. Committee meetin~s. To help meet these problems the Committee field three pu lie hearings in areas of the state in which the subject of weather modification was, or had been at one time of interest to or at issue between, the local cit- izenry. These public hearings were held in New Raymer, Lama~ and Monte Vista, Colorado. In addition, the Committee met with the scientists of the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory at Colorado State University; with the scientists at the field headquarters for the National Hail Experiment in Grover, Col- orado (this program is being conducted under the direction of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo- rado); and held two meetings in the Capitol at Denver. The Committee found a general support from the people for weather modification programs. However, most of the people did ex- press, at these hearings, a desire that the programs be based upon scientifically sound principles and that an administra- tive mechanism be established to regulate their operatioA and conduct. Even though the above statement appears to be ,the gen- eral consensus of the vast majority of people who appeared at these hearings, it must be pointed out that there are some, people who expressed a strong belief that man should not "tam- per in any way with God's work". There were others who ex- pressed a general doubt as to the value of weather modifica- tion programs; and many suggested that actual operations be curtailed until the "state of the art" in weather modifica- tion is further advanced than it appears to be at the present time. ~ested quidelines for revisinr Colorado's weather modifica on statute. At the abovement oned meetings, sev- xii