WMOD00252

• Contract/Permit #: #97-1
• Applicant: Western Weather Consultants
• Project Name: Telluride
• Date: 11/1/1997
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Public Hearing

Certificates of Liability Insurance dated October 27, 1997 and November 24,1997,
whiCh evidences that the applicant is covered by commercial general liability
insurance in the aggregate amount of$1 million through Essex Insurance Company
(ADCO General Corporation), which is licensed to do business in Colorado. [ S 36-
20-112(1)(c), CRS]

6. The proposed Operational Plan for the project submitted by the applicant meets the
requirements of S 36-20-112(1)(d), CRS.

7. The areas outside of the target area reasonably expected to be affected by the project
are those areas above approximate elevation 9,000 feet inside and immediately
adjacent to the target area in the upper San Miguel drainage basin and the uppennost
ridges inunediately downwind of the target area above approximate elevation 11,000
feet, as shown on the map transmitted October 9,1997.

8. Legal notice of intent to modify weather was published in a timely manner in the
official newspaper of San Miguel County, and in the official newspapers of the
adjacent counties of Ouray, San Juan, Dolores, and Montrose. [s 36-20-112(1)(e),
CRS]

9. A public hearing on the application was held beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday,
September 24,1997, and ending at 3:30 p.m. in the Rebecca Hall Annex to the Town
Hall at Telluride, Colorado. The hearing was conducted in the immediate vicinity
of the target area and not more than one week following the completion of
publication. The hearing was attended by 12 persons. [s 36-20-112(2), CRS]

10. The project has the potential to generate between 3,500 and 5,500 acre-feet of
additional snowmelt runoff per season.

11. The Telluride Ski and Golf Company's Special Use Pennits with the U.S. Forest
Service do not specifically limit the start date and end date of the ski season as
suggested by some objectors at the hearing. The applicant has shown a significant
benefit can be obtained by improving the depth of the snow base on opening day.

12. The target area is located on portions of the Uncompahgre National Forest and the
area that may be affected is located on portions of the Uncompahgre National Forest
and the San Miguel National Forest. The project is not expected to impact the
Wilson Mountains Primitive Area or the Uncompahgre Primitive Area.

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. [s 36-20-
104(2.5), CRS]

14. The project is expected to use less than 15 pounds per year of silver iodide, an inert
compound, as the cloud seeding agent.

15. There are no other known winter weather modification projects in the area.

6