Modification of Weather (Utah Code: Title 73 Water and Irrigation; Chapter 15)

Utah Code Page 1 Chapter 15 Modification of Weather 73-15-3 Cloud seeding to increase precipitation -- Control of Division of Water Resources Powers and authority of division -- "Cloud seeding" and "cloud-seeding project" defined. The state of Utah through the Division of Water Resources shall be the only entity, private or public, that shall have authority to authorize cloud-seeding research, evaluation, or implementation projects to alter precipitation, cloud forms, or meteorological parameters within the state of Utah, except cloud seeding for the suppression of fog; and frost prevention measures for the protection of orchards and crops are excluded from the coverage of this act. The Division of Water Resources shall authorize and may sponsor or develop local or state-wide cloud-seeding projects that conform to over-all state water planning objectives and are determined to be feasible by the Division of Water Resources. The Division of Water Resources may contract with the Utah water research laboratory or any other individual or organization for consultation and/or assistance in developing cloud-seeding projects or in furthering necessary research of cloud seeding or other factors that may be affected by cloud-seeding activities. Cloud seeding as used in this act shall be construed to mean all acts undertaken to artificially distribute or create nuclei in cloud masses for the purposes of altering precipitation, cloud forms, or other meteorological parameters. A cloud-seeding project as used in this act shall be a planned project to evaluate meteorological conditions, perform cloud seeding, and evaluate results. Amended by Chapter 250, 1979 General Session 73-15-4 Water from cloud seeding part of natural water supply -- Notice of intent prior to cloud-seeding project. All water derived as a result of cloud seeding shall be considered a part of the natural water supply of the basin in the same sense as if no cloud seeding operations had been conducted, and any water so derived shall not be subject to new appropriations but shall be administered and distributed to users on the stream system in accordance with existing water rights. A notice of intent shall be filed with the Division of Water Rights prior to the commencement of a cloud seeding project. Amended by Chapter 260, 1979 General Session 73-15-5 Transfer of records and data to division -- Establishment of reporting and recordkeeping procedures. All records and data collected by the department of meteorology of the state school of mines and mineral industries of the University of Utah since March 14, 1953, shall be transferred to the Division of Water Resources, there to be a permanent record. The Division of Water Resources shall establish forms and/or criteria for reporting data and record keeping and cause that a permanent record is kept of all pertinent data related to cloud-seeding projects, cloud-seeding research projects, or research related to other factors that may be affected by cloud-seeding activities. Amended by Chapter 21, 1999 General Session 73-15-6 Cloud-seeding contractors -- Registration. Utah Code Page 2 Any individual or organization that would like to become a cloud-seeding contractor in the state of Utah shall register with the Division of Water Resources. As a part of the registration the applicant shall meet qualifications established by the Division of Water Resources and submit proof of financial responsibility in order to give reasonable assurance of protection to the public in the event it should be established that damages were caused to third parties as a result of negligence in carrying out a cloud-seeding project. Enacted by Chapter 193, 1973 General Session 73-15-7 Precipitation caused by authorized project not presumed to constitute trespass or nuisance. The mere dissemination of materials and substances into the atmosphere or causing precipitation pursuant to an authorized cloud-seeding project shall not give rise to any presumption that such use of the atmosphere or lands constitutes trespass or involves an actionable or enjoinable public or private nuisance. Enacted by Chapter 193, 1973 General Session 73-15-8 Cloud seeding in Utah to target area in adjoining state. Cloud seeding in Utah to target an area in an adjoining state is prohibited except upon full compliance of the laws of the target area state the same as if the cloud-seeding operation took place in the target area state, as well as the other provisions of this act. Enacted by Chapter 193, 1973 General Session