CHAPTER 64
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 174
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND AN AD HOC COMMITTEE HEREIN ESTABLISHED TO CONTINUE THE PILOT PROJECT ON THE CONCEPTS OF DYNAMIC SEEDING (WEATHER MODIFICATION); AND FURTHER PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Division of Atmospheric Water Resources Management, is convinced that weather modification does work and produces significant results; and
WHEREAS, the boost in natural precipitation ranges from 10 to 30 percent; and
WHEREAS, cloud seeding does not have a negative effect on weather downwind from the area seeded, and the notion that taking moisture from the atmosphere in one area decreases the amount available to areas further down the line - the idea that seeding is robbing Peter to pay Paul - is false; and
WHEREAS, there is persuasive statistical evidence that dynamic seeding is effective in increasing the size and rain production of individual convective clouds, promoting cloud mergers, and increasing the rainfall from groups of convective clouds; and
WHEREAS, an analysis by the University of Delaware Agricultural Experimental Station for the years 1972 through 1976 provides encouraging results; and
WHEREAS, the study indicated that the environment appears favorable about half the time in May through August for successful cloud seeding to increase rain in Delaware, provided that suitable clouds are present; and
WHEREAS, positive results achieved are encouraging and all facts, statistics and data seem to point to real economic advantages to be gained from dynamic seeding; and
WHEREAS, hail suppression operations have demonstrated that crop damage from hail storms can be significantly reduced, the result being a decrease in the size of hail stones, thus minimizing the damage — hail stones fall as slushy stones or completely dissipate into rain; and
WHEREAS, the first year's use of the pilot study indicated that the weather modification program had been successful and should be continued.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. The Department of Agriculture in cooperation with an ad hoc committee herein established Is hereby authorized and directed to continue a Pilot Project of Dynamic Seeding during the summer of 1979, the results of which shall be reported to the Governor and members of the General Assembly, as soon thereafter as practicable.
Section 2. There is hereby established an ad hoc committee to assist, advise, and consult with the Department of Agriculture in this pilot project of dynamic seeding. The committee shall be comprised of seven members to be appointed by the Delaware Weather Modification Association Steering Committee. Representation shall be as follows: two members from New Castle County; and two members from Kent County and three members from Sussex County. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and the Director of the Agricultural Experimental Station in Georgetown or their designee shall be ex-officio members of the committee.
Section 3. The sum of $184,000 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of continuing the Pilot Program to be expended in the following manner:
3-month project $ 120,000
Rain Gauge Network & cooperation
with the University of Delaware
in the evaluation 24,000
Airborne instrumentation and radar
system for evaluation 40,000
TOTAL: $ 184,000
Section 4. This is a supplementary appropriation and the funds hereby appropriated shell be paid by the State Treasurer out of funds in the General Fund of the State of Delaware not otherwise appropriated.
Section 5. The funds herein appropriated remaining unexpended or unencumbered on January 1, 1980, shall revert to the General Fund of the State of Delaware.
Section 8. In the interest of expediting the pilot project herein authorized, the provisions of Chapter 89, Title 29 of the Delaware Code are hereby waived.
Approved June 11,1979.