WMOD00080

• Contract/Permit #: #96-5
• Applicant: Southern Colorado Farms
• Project Name: Southern Colorado Farms
• Date: 1/1/1996
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: License & Permits

10. Although the idea of a hail cannon is over 100 years old, the technology to make it
work effectively is only recently being developed. Never-the-Iess, the proposed
project is a commercial project and not a scientific or research project.

11. The District Court Order dated August 8, 1973 cited and relied upon by opponents
to the pending application affirmed the decision of the Director in regard to a specific
weather modification application submitted by a different sponsor over 23 years ago
for cloud. seeding from aircraft over a broad target area.. Because the weather
. " modificatkm methods and size of the target areas differ greatly from those: in the
pending application, the order is not persuasive' in regard to the decision on the
pending application for a permit to use hail cannons for purposes of hail suppression.

- - - - - -- - - - - - -i2.- - --The-testimony-and evidence presented -in-opposltlon-forne- appl1ca1i6n-rel<iling-fo' - - - . - - . . .
drought, the use of silver iodide, cloud seeding, and suspicions of illegal cloud seeding
since 1973 were not found to be persuasive in regard to this application because
drought relief is not an objective of the applicant and cloud seeding using silver iodide
is not proposed as the method for hail suppression in the pending application.

13. Opposition to the application on the basis that the opponent is morally, ethically or
otherwise opposed to technology in general or weather modification specifically are
not sufficient grounds for consideration.

14. Victor Smith, John Smith, Brian Mizokami, and several others testified there is a
substantial risk of hail in the target areas which can result in devastating economic
losses to head lettuce, spinach, and potato crops. A significant benefit to the people
in the operating area would be provided if, by controlling the formation or physical
condition of hail, the loss to these crops could be reduced or alleviated. This benefit
would also extend to the people who deal in the harvesting and marketing of the
protected crops. '

15. Testimony at the hearing showed the State of Colorado would benefit from the
project because it would protect the state's reputation as a reliable proaucer of fine
spinach, head lettuce, and potatoes. The ability to furnish those crops free of hail
damage substantially increases Colorado's stature as a competitive, viable economic
producer.

16. Michael John Eggers and Victor Smith testified that hail cannons of the type proposed
in this application have been successfully used in New Mexico and New Zealand to
control hail damages to crops and orchards inside a circle with a 500 meter radius of
the hail cannon. No testimony was offered at the hearing to contradict the testimony
that the project using hail cannons is technically and scientifically feasible.

17. Based on the information in the proposed operational plan, testimony provided at the
public hearing, and the materials reviewed, the project:

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