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190 Historic Target Areas in Colorado Since the early 1950s, weather modification has been conducted in several areas of Colorado including the San Luis Valley, the Grand Mesa, the SaP Juan Mountains, the Willow Creek Basin, northeast Colorado, and southeast Colorado. Several ski areas including Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek, Telluride, and Pugatory have sponsored projects in th~ past. More recently, a few fanners in the San Luis Valley and Front Range areas have bought hail cfinnons to protect high value cash crops in relatively small target areas from hail damage. A table summarizing active weather modification permits and a map of current weather modification target areas are attached. Authorities Administration of Colorado's Weather Modification Permit Program is the responsibility of the Executive Director of the Department of Natural ReSOUrces. This responsibility has been delegated to the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board since 1987. The issuance of permits for weather modification in Colorado is controlled by the Weather Modification Statute, Section 36-20- 101 et. seq., CRS, and by the Weather Modification Rules and Regulations at 2CCR 401-1. The statutes were originally enacted in 1951 and modified in 1963, 1972, 1992, IUld 1996. The rules were adopted by the Executive Director of the Dep~ent of Natural Resources in August 1986. Permits Following sunset review hearings in 1996, the General Assembly decided that the state should continue to issue weather modification permits in order to monitor and keep the public informed about weather modification activity. While weather modification licenses were eliminated, the qualifications for operating a weather modification program were made part of the permitting process. Permits are issued for specific projects for 5 consecutive years and are renewable thereafter for 10 consecutive years. The permit application review fee (s $100 plus a 2% annual commercial fee. Applications must be submitted at least 45 days before the begirming ofthe project. The applicant must publish a public notice ofintent to modify the weather, and a public hearing is required. Information provided in the application IUld testimony .at the public hearing must show the project: I. is reasonably expected to benefit the people in the area in which the operation will be conducted or benefit the people of the state of Colorado, 2. is scientifically and technically feasible ifit is a commercial project, 3. does not involve a high degree of risk ofsubsumtial hann to land, people, health, safety, property, or the enviromnent, 4. is designed to include adequate safeguards to prevent substantial damage to land, water rights, people, health, safety, or to the environment, : 5. will not adversely affect another project, and 6. is designed to minimize risk IUld maximize scientific gains or economic benefits to the residents of the area or the state. 2