The Weather Modification Transparency and Accountability Act
Section 1: Findings and Purpose
Congress finds that:
- Weather modification technologies have the potential for significant benefits to society, including agriculture, water resource management, and disaster mitigation.
- The use of weather modification technologies also carries potential risks, including unintended environmental consequences and disputes over liability.
- Transparency and public accountability are essential for ensuring the responsible development and use of weather modification technologies.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a framework for the regulation of weather modification activities on behalf of or within the United States, promoting transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of these technologies.
Section 2: Definitions
For the purposes of this Act:
- Weather Modification means any intentional activity designed to alter or influence meteorological phenomena, including precipitation, hail, fog, lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other atmospheric conditions.
- Weather Modification System or Method means any technology, technique, or process used to effect weather modification, including but not limited to cloud seeding, ionization, electromagnetic radiation, and chemical dispersal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shall publish and maintain a publicly accessible list of defined Weather Modification Systems and Methods on their website, updated at least annually. This list shall be based on peer-reviewed scientific research and expert consensus and shall include a description of the method, its purported effects, and the current state of scientific understanding regarding its efficacy and potential risks.
- Permit means a written authorization issued by the designated federal agency allowing the conduct of specific weather modification activities.
Accompanying Example Document: Illustrative Examples of Weather Modification Systems and Methods (Not Exhaustive or Definitive)
This document is intended to provide illustrative examples of technologies and methods that have been associated with weather modification. It is not an exhaustive list and does not constitute an endorsement of the efficacy or safety of any particular method. The scientific understanding of these methods is constantly evolving, and this document should be considered in conjunction with the official list maintained by NOAA.
Examples:
- Cloud Seeding: The introduction of substances, such as silver iodide or dry ice, into clouds to stimulate precipitation. This is one of the most widely used and studied weather modification techniques.
- Hygroscopic Seeding: Using salts or other hygroscopic materials to promote cloud condensation and precipitation.
- Fog Dispersal: Techniques used to improve visibility in fog, including seeding with hygroscopic materials or using heat.
- Hail Suppression: Attempts to reduce the size or occurrence of hail by seeding storm clouds.
- Electromagnetic Techniques: This category encompasses a range of technologies, some of which are highly speculative.
- Ionospheric Modification: Research involving the manipulation of the ionosphere using high-frequency radio waves. Note: While some research explores the effects of ionospheric modification on the upper atmosphere, the connection to tropospheric weather (i.e., weather near the Earth’s surface) is highly debated and largely unsubstantiated. Claims that programs like HAARP (High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) directly control weather are not supported by the scientific community.
- Directed Energy: Theoretical concepts involving the use of focused energy beams to influence atmospheric processes. Note: These concepts are largely theoretical and require further research.
Important Considerations:
- Scientific Validity: The efficacy of many weather modification techniques is still under scientific investigation. Rigorous scientific studies are necessary to establish the effectiveness and potential impacts of these methods.
- Environmental Impacts: The potential environmental consequences of weather modification activities must be carefully assessed.
- Ethical Considerations: Ethical issues related to weather modification, such as the potential for unintended consequences and the distribution of benefits and risks, should be addressed.
Section 3: Prohibition and Permitting
(a) No person, entity, government agency, nor Military Department shall engage in weather modification activities on behalf of or within the United States without a valid permit issued pursuant to this Act.
(b) The [Designated Federal Agency, e.g., NOAA] shall establish a permitting process for weather modification activities. The application process shall require detailed information regarding the proposed activity, including:
- The specific weather modification system or method to be used.
- The geographic area and timeframe of the proposed activity.
- The intended purpose and anticipated effects of the activity.
- A comprehensive environmental impact assessment.
- A plan for monitoring and evaluating the effects of the activity.
- All government permits shall also require an after action report on the effectiveness, cost, lessons learned and unforeseen results or unexpected impacts. These reports shall be considered when granting future government permits.
(c) Permit applications, approval/disapproval status, and issued permits shall be made publicly available on a dedicated website maintained by the [Designated Federal Agency]. This information shall be presented in easily readable reports and as datasets suitable for research and analysis.
(d) Existing operational Farming and recreational users shall be granted an immediate approval without a new environmental impact study and an expedited approval process to ensure no crop loss due to administrative government delays. However prior to renewal the environmental impact study must be updated or completed.
Section 4: Permitted Activities
(a) Civilian permits may be issued for the following purposes:
- Creation of water vapor clouds incidental to space and rocket industry operations.
- Primarily Cloud Seeding for Precipitation Enhancement:
- Western US: This is the most common area for cloud seeding in agriculture. States with active programs or where farmers frequently contract cloud seeding services include:
- California: Particularly in the Sierra Nevada mountains, to increase snowpack for water supply that irrigates the Central Valley’s vast agricultural lands.
- Colorado: In the Rocky Mountains, for similar purposes of increasing snowpack and river flow for agriculture.
- Wyoming: Has a long history of cloud seeding programs aimed at increasing snowpack for water resources used in agriculture and other sectors.
- Texas: Especially in the western and panhandle regions, where water scarcity is a significant concern for agriculture.
- Kansas: Some cloud seeding efforts have been undertaken to increase rainfall in this major agricultural state.
- Other Western States: Including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Montana, often have localized cloud seeding projects for water resource management that benefits agriculture.
Types of Farms and Purposes:
- Large-scale Irrigated Agriculture: Farms relying on irrigation water from rivers and reservoirs fed by snowmelt are the primary beneficiaries of cloud seeding efforts in the West. This includes:
- Fruit and Nut Orchards: In California and other states.
- Vegetable Farms: Particularly in California’s Central Valley.
- Hay and Alfalfa Farms: Providing feed for livestock.
- Dryland Farming: In drier regions like parts of Texas and Kansas, cloud seeding aims to increase rainfall directly on crops, reducing the need for irrigation. This benefits:
- Wheat Farms: A major crop in these areas.
- Cotton Farms: In Texas and other Southern states.
Important Notes:
- Frost Protection: While less common than large-scale cloud seeding, some individual farmers may use localized frost protection methods like wind machines or overhead sprinklers to protect sensitive crops (e.g., citrus fruits) during cold snaps.
(b) Government permits may be issued for the following purposes:
- Publicly announced research on weather modification technologies.
- Mitigation of hurricanes threatening U.S. coastlines.
- Mitigation of tornadoes threatening populated areas.
Section 5: Government Liability
(a) In any instance where the federal government conducts weather modification activities, the government assumes full responsibility for any and all damages and restoration costs resulting directly from those activities.
(b) This liability extends to both public and private lands and property, including but not limited to:
- Property damage.
- Crop losses.
- Environmental damage.
(c) A clear process for filing claims against the government for damages related to government-conducted weather modification activities shall be established and made publicly available.
Section 6: Enforcement
(a) NOAA is authorized to enforce the provisions of this Act, including the issuance of cease and desist orders and the imposition of civil penalties for violations.
(b) Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $[1 million] per violation as well as any restoration costs of associated property damages.
Section 7: Rulemaking
NOAA shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act within [6] months of its enactment.
Section 8: Severability
If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.