WSPC00811 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

000135 V. Conclusion This Environmental Assessment has been prepared for the Bureau of Reclama- tion's CREST legislative proposal. The proposal asks Congress for funding approval to design and conduct a limited duration winter cloud seeding demonstration project in the Colorado River Basin. A CREST Program Plan [26J has been prepared to explain the concept. The CREST proposal does not seek approval of an operational cloud seeding program in the CRB, nor does the Environmental Assessment attempt to antici- pate the results of the proposed demonstration. The Environmental Assessment presents a synopsis of the results of over a generation of scientific inquiry by the Bureau, other Federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, State governments, an array of colleges and universities, and the private sector. It reviews the experience of both research and operational winter orographic cloud seeding projects conducted by scientists, resource managers, and businessmen since the early 1960's. The body of evidence established by all these activities leads to the conclu- sion that research and development winter cloud seeding activities can be conducted without significant and/or adverse environmental impact. This was recognized by the Weather Modification Advisory Board in its report to the Secretary of Commerce. The Board's mission from Congress was to "conduct a comprehensive investigation and study of the state of scientific knowledge concerning weather modification, the present state of development of weather modification technology, the problems impeding effective implemen- tation of weather modification technology, and other related matters." [27, p. iiJ The Board recommended "a sharply focused confirmatory program, in the Colorado Rocky Mountains." [27, p. 184J This recommendation followed the Board's own assessment of the possible environmental effects of increased precipitation and the difficulty of separating them from other natural and manmade influences. The Board suggested that collection of environmental data over the periOd of a 20-year program may be required, "then it might be possible to detect and monitor distinct environmental effects." [27, p. 143J The Bureau of Reclamation concludes that all available information has been surveyed in order to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and that a demonstration winter cloud seeding project can be conducted in any of the Colorado River Basin subbasins in such a manner that the reasonably foreseeable environmental impact is acceptable. The Bureau's proposal includes a commitment for a supplemental site-specific environmental assessment as part of the public involvement, site selection, and detailed design process following congressional approval of CREST to ensure that local concerns and conditions are accommodated in the project design. The Bureau of Reclamation will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact for the CREST leglislative proposal. 39