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<br />Weather Modification Permit (WM2) <br />Applicant: Villano Bros. Farms, Inc. <br />Date: March 4, 1998 <br /> <br />OPERATIONAL PLAN <br /> <br />1. Description of the obiectives of the proposed proiect. <br /> <br />Commercial op~ation of a hail suppression device using ~eql!enced sound waves to produce <br />a cavitation effect in ice forming within cumulus cloud formations in order to inhibit the <br />_ _ _ J9~tion ofj~~ p~.clescausjn~_ th~ .1lloistur~ .19 fall as rl!liJ. _r~the! than_ h~ !Yit]1iIl the tilfg~t _ <br />area. <br /> <br />2. Description of the target area and the area reasonably expected to be effected by the project. <br /> <br />The target area includes the parcels listed on Exhibit A located in the south central part of <br />Weld County, Colorado. Please see attached map(s) of target area(s). <br /> <br />3. Description of ho\v the proiect vlill be ca..rried out (inc1udini location of office and "veather <br />data used). <br /> <br />The project will be carried out by the installation and operation of a hail cannon located within <br />the above-described target area( s). The target area will cover a circle (with the hail cannon <br />at the center) with a radius of 500 meters. Due to distortions resulting from prevailing winds, <br />the target area may become enlarged to the extent that the areas reasonably expected to be <br />affected by the project are those areas witllln a 1,000 meter (3,280 feet) radius ofthe hail <br />cannon. [The distortions will be dependent upon the velocity of the prevailing winds. <br />Generally, prevailing wind currents crossing the continental divide will be from the west or <br />the northwest and would present a target area elongated to the downwind side south <br />(south/east) and shortened on the upwind side of the 500 meter target radius]. <br /> <br />The hail cannon is designed to direct sound waves upward to penetrate the ice particle- <br />producing area of the clouds in order to inhibit the formation of hail stones. The hail cannon <br />is a cylinder-shaped upright chamber, in which acetylene is ignited, discharging energy (in the <br />form of sound waves) upward/perpendicular to the ground. Discharges from the hail cannon <br />are controlled by a computer which sequences the time interval between sound discharges. <br />The decision to commence operation of the hail cannon will be determined by visual <br />observation of the operator/applicant. Under ideal conditions, the operation of the hail cannon <br />will commence ten (10) minutes before the expected arrival of the hail-producing cloud over <br />the target area and will continue operation until the hail-producing cloud(s) has fully passed <br />over the target area. The decision to commence operation of the hail cannon will be made by <br />the operator/applicant and will be based upon the operator/applicant's visual observations and <br />