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<br />MR. SPARKS: continuing research is going on. There is a fairly exten- <br />sive program that is being carried on by the Department of the Interior. <br />Very little is going on here in the state. I am very thankful that we <br />are not engaged in weather modification this year, I might say. We took <br />enough abuse last year, and this year it would even be worse. There is <br />no way we can get the funds, with the 7 percent limitation. It is out <br />of the question unless the Legislature amends the Act, and I don't think <br />they are going to do it. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />From the general fund, we just can't get the money. That is just a fact <br />of life. They have put in a bill, but my guess is it will go nowhere, <br />because they are up against that 7 percent again. <br /> <br />MR. FETCHER: The only point I am making is that at the meeting that I <br />attended last Monday there appears to be, on the part of C.S.U. which <br />is doing some fundamental work, a question of whether or not they will <br />be permitted to continue some basic research. And this is what came out <br />of this meeting, was whether or not the local interest would support a <br />continuing program in our area. And I think it is important that'we do <br />so. <br /> <br />Some of the questions that were raised, for instance, were whether <br />the cloud seeding in utah has its effect this far east. And there <br />a lot of answers that Dr. Grant simply doesn't know the answer to. <br />I think that this work should be continued. <br /> <br />or not <br />are <br />And <br /> <br />Harris, you are closer to it than I am. <br /> <br />MR. SHERMAN: The prOblem with respect to the research issue that you <br />jus~mentioned was that it is not a funding prOblem. It is a question <br />of whether a permit should be granted pursuant to an application that <br />had been submitted by C.S.U. We are contemplating that.now and probably <br />will have a decision within a few days. <br /> <br />I think Bob Fischer's point really went to funding of commercial programs <br />more than funding that was related directly to research. <br /> <br />Now, I think our problem--and I want to speak strictly from a budgetary <br />standpoint--is that with the 7 percent limitation on increases in general <br />funds and with an inflation rate that is exceeding the 7 percent, the <br />Legislature and the Governor are all reluctant to expand programs. As <br />a matter of fact, we are getting cutbacks across the board in programs. <br />So, based on that, it is very difficult to get the kind of support we <br />need for an ongoing program. <br /> <br />I have some sympathy for seeing an ongoing program in the state, but I <br />think the Legislature is first going to have to deal with the fiscal <br />issue before we are going to be in a position to advance a State <br />sponsored weather modification program. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />MR. KROEGER: Bob Fischer. <br /> <br />MR. FISCHER: It just seems to me that the people that are interested <br />and concerned about the water supplies of this state for the future, <br /> <br />-34- <br />