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9. Legal notice of intent to modify weather was published in a timely manner in the official newspaper of Grand County, and the official newspapers of the adjacent counties of Eagle, Gilpin, Routt, Jackson, Boulder, Larimer, and Clear Creek. [{) 36-20-112(1)(e), CRS] 10. A public hearing on the application was held beginning at 1 :00 p.m. on Monday, October 27, 1997, and ending at 3:52 p.m., in the Grand County Courthouse, 308 Byers Avenue, Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. The hearing was conducted in the immediate vicinity of the target area not more than one week following completion of the publication of legal notice. The hearing was attended by 15 persons. [{) 36-20-112(2), CRS] 11. The proj ect is intended to augment natural precipitation within the target area to provide improved snowpackand additional water supplies for storage and beneficial use. Incidental benefits may include improved ground water recharge, fish habitat and recreational opportunities. The average annual runoff in the basin is approximately 50,000 acre-feet. Assuming a 10- to 15- percent increase in runoff, the project has the potential to generate between 5,000 and 7,500 acre-feet of additional snowmelt runoff per season. 12. The target area is located on portions ofthe Arapahoe National Forest and the area outside the target area reasonably expected to be affected is located on portions of the Routt National Forest. The project is not expected to significantly impact the Rocky Mountain National Park or adjacent wilderness areas.' J 13. The proposed project is a "ground-based winter cloud seeding" project intended to be operated between the months of November through May of each year. [{) 36-20-104(2.5), CRS] 14. The project will utilize not more than fifteen (15) ground based generators. In an active year (about 20 storms), the project is expected to use less than 100 pounds per year of silver iodide, an inert compound, as the cloud s~eding agent. In a typical year~etween 20 and 30 pounds might be used. . 15. There are no other known winter weather modification projects in the area. 16. The proposed project is a commercial project and not a research and development project as defined by statute. [{) 36-20-104(9), CRS] The snowfall sampling program proposed by the National Park Service intended to refine the estimates of the magnitude and extent of the seeding operation, is beyond the scope of this proposed commercial weather modification project. The weather modification statutes require that the project must "not involve a high degree of risk of substantial harm" [ {) 36-20-112 (3)(e), CRS] and include "adequate safeguards to prevent substantial damage..." [ {) 36-20-112 (3)(f), CRS] They do not impose a zero impact standard. 17. The applicant did not operate the program on behalf of the sponsor in 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1997-98. 6