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<br />. <br /> <br />! <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />The target area will be the Grand Mesa area in the vicinity of the Bureau <br />of Reclamation's observatory near the town of Grand Mesa. An office will be <br />located near Grand Junction or a few miles to the east. Available weather data <br />will consist of the project observations, including real time measurements from <br />Ka-band radar and dual frequency microwave radiometer, radiosonde observations, <br />and standard National Weather Service data received at the Grand Junction weather <br />office. <br /> <br />Balloon launching sites will be set up in the general vic1n1ty of 1-70 be- <br />tween Grand Junction and Rifle with a site spacing of about 5 miles. In some <br />instances, it is expected that balloons will be released from mobile units. <br />The balloons, which are about 26" diameter, will rise nearly vertically upon <br />release, and at a pre-designated altitude the ice nuclei will be released. The <br />typical altitude of release is 11,000 to 13,000 ft above sea level. Two sets <br />of balloons will be released with each case for a total of about 12 per case. <br />Each set will be released about 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours apart. It is expected that <br />about 10 to 15 cases will be tested. With a maximum of 15 cases and 12 balloons <br />each case, the project total is 180 balloons at maximum. Each payload contains <br />about 1/2 gram of silver iodide in an acetone solution which is burned at the <br />seeding altitude. Thus, the total silver iodide released during the project <br />will be less than 100 grams. <br /> <br />d) Environmental effects should be negligible. The output of silver <br />iodide is very small compared with other accepted projects. Only .01" or <br />at most .02" of precipitation is expected with each set of balloons. There- <br />fore, the total effect on the seasonal precipitation will be very small indeed. <br /> <br />e) Project measurements will be evaluated to determine whether signatures <br />from seeding can be detected by ground-based measurements including remote <br />sens1ng. <br /> <br />10. The State of Colorado can reasonably expect to benefit because the tech- <br />nology of cloud seeding will be advanced by the project. The planned research <br />has been reviewed by competent scientists on behalf of the National Science <br />Foundation and has in fact received NSF funding. <br /> <br />12. The express purpose of the research is to expand the knowledge and tech- <br />nology of weather modification. The study will contribute to the possible <br />establishment of a new method of seeding winter orographic clouds which take <br />into account both the actual presence of supercooled liquid water and provides <br />for a suitable delivery of ice nuclei into the clouds. <br /> <br />13. No significant risk to land, <br />environment has been identified. <br />and equipment is expected. <br /> <br />people, health, safety, property or the <br />Ordinary prudence in the operation of devices <br /> <br />14. Before any seeding is conducted, a check with the National Weather Service <br />will be made to guard against seeding during periods when avalanches are fore- <br />cast or when the snowpack is deemed too high by State officials. Any project <br />sites will be restored to a natural appearance after the project is completed. <br />Vehicles will not be used on unpaved roads or elsewhere when rutting may occur. <br />