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<br />56 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />HEARING OFFICER SJAASTAD: So if you will give <br /> <br />2 your name, address, and position to the reporter, and then <br /> <br />3 proceed. <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />MR. WESTERBERG: Okay. Mr. Hearing Officer and <br /> <br />5 members of the Advisory Board, my name is Darold Westerberg; <br /> <br />8 and I have the job of Forest Supervisor on the San Juan <br /> <br />7 National Forest. And I am here today to testify on behalf of <br /> <br />S Craig Rupp, Regional Forester for the Rocky Mountain Region. <br /> <br />9 The application by Western Weather Consultants <br /> <br />10 for weather modification activities in the southern San Juan <br /> <br />11 Mountains indicates portions of the San Juan and Rio Grande <br /> <br />J2 National Forest to be the primary impact area for increased <br /> <br />13 precipitation, <br /> <br />1( The Forest Service generally supports precipita- <br /> <br />15 tion augmentation programs where they are properly designed <br /> <br />16 and technically sound. Our primary concern is the effect <br /> <br />17 precipitation augmentation could have on natural resources <br /> <br />IS and activities in the National Forest even within the range <br /> <br />19 of natural variability. <br /> <br />20 Among the ~any factors that could be strongly <br /> <br />21 influenced by weather and climate conditions are natural <br /> <br />22 ecological changes, plant establishment and growth, the speed <br /> <br />23 and intensity of attack by diseases and insects, the well- <br /> <br />2( being and perpetuation of wildlife and fish, soil and 'stream <br /> <br />25 channel stability and erosion, and flood and avalanche <br />