Tag: cloud seeding

Steps Forward: Holding Cloud Seeding Accountable
Part 4: Steps Forward: Holding Cloud Seeding Accountable

Demanding Notification and Transparency

The current cloud seeding program in Idaho potentially infringes on private property rights, yet residents are not provided the option to opt-out or even notified before spraying occurs. It’s high time for Idaho to adopt responsible measures seen in other states, such as public hearings and publishing notifications in newspapers at least two weeks prior to the start of the program. Shockingly, Idaho lacks such public notification services, leaving citizens in the dark about activities that could impact their health and property.

Following Montana’s Responsible Model

Our research highlighted Montana’s commendable approach to cloud seeding, serving as a model of transparency, accountability, and regulation. Our bill aimed to replicate their method by implementing clear notification, permitting, licensing, and liability provisions for cloud seeding operators.

These recommendations are not just reasonable but necessary for building public trust in the cloud seeding program. By adding these provisions to HB 266, we have taken a step towards ensuring that cloud seeding operators bear some of the liability for their activities.

Time for Action

It’s time for every Idahoan to question why our state is allowing such risky experimentation without adequate safeguards. We urge you to spread the word and take action to hold our legislature accountable for implementing responsible and transparent cloud seeding practices.

Find a Weather Modification Generator or Flight Path Near You:

For more information on weather modification generators or flight paths near you, please visit the following link: Weather Modification Generator and Flight Path Locator.

Budget

Proposed FY2024 Budget for the Secondary Aquifer Fund, Cloud Seeding: $7M. Cigarette tax proceeds contribute to the totals listed here, highlighting the significant investment in this experimental program.
1. The Idaho Legislature has authorized the creation of “weather modification districts” that can levy up to 4 mills in property taxes to fund weather modification activities. This is outlined in Idaho Statute 22-4302.3
2. The Idaho Water Resources Board (IWRB) and Idaho Power Company (IPC) collaborate on cloud seeding programs in Idaho, with the IWRB overseeing the programs and IPC providing the majority of the funding.
3. According to the presentation slides, the “Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program” in Idaho has an estimated annual operations cost of $3,995,000. This covers projects in the Boise River Basin, Wood River Basin, Payette River Basin, and Upper Snake River Basin.5
4. The state of Idaho has provided around $14,050,000 in total funding contributions to support the development and analysis of these weather modification programs over the past several years.5
What You Can Do:
1. Call or Write Your Representative: Reach out to your representative and express your concerns. Encourage them to support responsible cloud seeding practices. The bipartisan support our bill received is encouraging, and your voice can make a difference.
2. Sign the Petition: If you’re concerned about cloud seeding operators receiving special liability protections and want to see responsible testing practices, sign our petition to make your voice heard.
Want to Learn More?

NOAA weather modification reports often include maps showing the locations of generators used to disperse chemicals. Reports from Idaho Power, Let it Snow (owned by Marty and Conni Owen), Weather Modification Inc., and others can be found here.

Conclusion

As Idahoans, we must demand accountability and transparency from our legislature regarding the cloud seeding program. It’s crucial to implement responsible practices that protect our health, property, and environment. Take action today to ensure that our state prioritizes public safety and well-being over risky experimentation.

MORE RESEARCH

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4717532/
April 20, 2024
Unveiling the Chemicals: Transparency Concerns in Idaho’s Cloud Seeding Program
Part 3: Proceeding with Caution in Weather Modification

Experimental Approaches Raise Concerns

Idaho Power has been cloud seeding since 2003. It now operates 57 remote ground generators in the Payette, Boise, Wood River and upper Snake River pumping a variety of chemicals into the skies to ‘increase precipitation’. Our state budget has 7 million ear marked for just cloud seeding for the fiscal year of 2024. (see page 34)

1.-Budget-Resolutions.-RE-Dec-1-2023 Download

Idaho Power’s 2021-2022 cloud seeding application revealed the use of “liquid propane for testing purposes” without specifying the quantities[^1^]. The lack of transparency regarding the amount of liquid propane used and the experimental nature of such tests underscores the need for greater public awareness and oversight of cloud seeding operations in Idaho.

Idahoans deserve to be informed about any experimental “test” activities conducted by Idaho Power or other cloud-seeding operators. Transparency is crucial to ensure that citizens understand the potential risks and impacts of these weather modification techniques on their communities and environment.

Assessing Chemical Impacts

Ongoing testing to assess the environmental impact of silver iodide and other seeding agents is a responsible measure to safeguard against long-term accumulation damage. Our legislation included provisions requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to conduct and report on testing in seeded basins[^1^].

However, a FOIA request to DEQ revealed a lack of records and testing procedures, contradicting statements made by Kala Golden at the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR)[^1^]. The discrepancies highlight the importance of ensuring that DEQ is actively involved in testing and monitoring the environmental impacts of cloud seeding operations.

Increasing Usage Quantities

Recent NOAA reports indicate an increase in the dispersal rate of silver iodide from 7-8 grams per hour to 20 grams per hour[^1^]. The rationale behind this increase remains unclear and raises concerns about the potential for over-seeding, which could decrease moisture levels and impact local ecosystems.

Without required ongoing testing and monitoring, it is challenging to determine the accumulation levels of seeding agents in the environment, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive and transparent monitoring programs.

Disclosure of Chemicals Used

Earlier NOAA reports revealed the use of multiple chemicals, including silver iodide, ammonium iodide, ammonium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, and acetone[^1^].

Chemicals Used in Cloud Seeding:
1. Silver Iodide (AgI):
  - Description: Silver iodide is a chemical compound that is commonly used in cloud seeding to induce precipitation.
  - Potential Environmental Hazards: While silver iodide is generally considered to have low toxicity, there are concerns about its environmental accumulation and potential long-term impacts on ecosystems. Silver ions can be toxic to aquatic organisms and may bioaccumulate in food chains.
2. Ammonium Iodide (NH4I):
  - Description: Ammonium iodide is another iodine-containing compound that can be used in cloud seeding.
  - Potential Environmental Hazards: Ammonium compounds can contribute to nutrient loading in water bodies, potentially leading to eutrophication. Excessive levels can harm aquatic life and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
3. Ammonium Perchlorate (NH4ClO4):
  - Description: Ammonium perchlorate is an oxidizer that is sometimes used in cloud seeding to enhance the formation of ice crystals in clouds.
  - Potential Environmental Hazards: Perchlorate compounds can persist in the environment and may contaminate groundwater. Chronic exposure to perchlorate can interfere with thyroid function in humans and wildlife.
4. Sodium Perchlorate (NaClO4):
  - Description: Sodium perchlorate is another oxidizer that can be used in cloud seeding.
  - Potential Environmental Hazards: Similar to ammonium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate can contaminate groundwater and pose risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to its impact on thyroid function.
5. Acetone (CH3COCH3):
  - Description: Acetone is a solvent that can be used as a carrier or dispersant for other cloud seeding agents.
  - Potential Environmental Hazards: Acetone is relatively volatile and can contribute to air pollution. It can also contaminate water bodies and soil, posing risks to aquatic life and terrestrial ecosystems.
However, current reports only mention silver iodide, raising questions about the full disclosure of chemicals used in cloud seeding operations.

Our legislation addressed the reporting requirement for disclosing all chemicals used in weather modification activities, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in cloud seeding programs.

Transparency and Public Involvement

While weather modification programs are required to submit interim and final reports to NOAA, the current database lacks searchable document fields, limiting public access to information[^1^]. Reports typically cover a 5-6 month window without providing exact dates of seeding activities, further reducing transparency.

The public should be notified about cloud seeding activities, and public hearings should be held to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to voice their concerns and ask questions about these experimental weather modification techniques, as modeled by other states.

In conclusion, as we continue to experiment with nature through cloud seeding and other weather modification techniques, it is crucial to proceed with caution and prioritize transparency to protect the well-being of citizens and the environment.

MORE FROM HFI

Idaho Cloud Seeding Raises Flood Concerns

Citations:

[^1^]: NOAA – Idaho Cloud Seeding Program

Cloud Seeding Program
April 20, 2024
Idaho Cloud Seeding Raises Flood Concerns
BOISE, Idaho — As cloud seeding programs continue to be implemented across the western United States, concerns are growing over the potential risks and unintended consequences, including the risk of flooding and environmental damage. With an annual budget of $7 million, the Idaho Power Company’s cloud seeding program, along with the oversight from the Idaho Water Resources Board (IWRB) and Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), has come under scrutiny for its management and transparency.

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique used to enhance precipitation, primarily through the dispersal of silver iodide or other substances into clouds. While some studies suggest it can increase precipitation by 5-15%, the impacts are not always easy to quantify, and the potential for unintended consequences, such as flooding, remains a concern¹.

The recent flooding events in the Wood River Valley in May 2023 have raised questions about the role of cloud seeding in exacerbating flooding conditions. According to documents obtained through a FOIA request, the cloud seeding program in the Wood Basin area was terminated in March 2023 due to high snowpack levels and water supply forecasts². Yet, just two months later, significant flooding occurred, leading to mandatory evacuations².

Idaho Power’s weather modification application outlines termination procedures and safeguards to suspend or stop the program when certain conditions arise, including the risk of potential flooding³. However, the responsibility of managing these risks and the burden placed on citizens in case of accidental operator error or unknowingly contributing to environmental damage remains a contentious issue.

“Is it responsible to place the risk burden on the citizens in case of accidental operator error or unknowingly contributing to environmental damage?” questions the full report on Idaho Power’s cloud seeding activities³.

Temperature shifts, which can contribute to snowmelt and runoff, were not explicitly considered when earlier season cloud seeding took place. This raises concerns about the potential contribution of cloud seeding to the runoff flooding experienced in the Wood River Valley².

In response to these concerns, a recent 2023/2024 NOAA report by Conni Owen revealed that Idaho Power has created a new daily-updated long-term suspension criteria named the Flooding Index. The report also highlighted drawbacks to the Snow Water Supply Index (SWSI), which Idaho Power previously relied on, including inconsistencies in thresholds and database dependencies⁴.

The shift to new methods by Idaho Power is raising questions among Idahoans about the adequacy of the previous flood index and the need for more robust and transparent monitoring and evaluation of cloud seeding programs.

The delicate balance of nature isn’t as easy to manipulate as some presume, and the complex and sometimes unpredictable nature of cloud seeding underscores the need for careful oversight and transparency. As cloud seeding continues to be used as an experimental program with the potential to cause environmental and property damage, there is an urgent need for the government to prioritize the safety and well-being of local communities and ensure that proper safeguards and transparency measures are in place.

Citations:

Footnotes

Budget for Cloud Seeding on Page 34

Budget-Resolutions.-RE-Dec-1-2023 Download

https://library.oarcloud.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/OAR/OWAQ/Weather_Modification_Project/FY22/2021IDCM-1.pdf

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2023-05-16/hailey-flooding-big-wood-river-sandbags
Unveiling the Chemicals: Transparency Concerns in Idaho’s Cloud Seeding Program
April 20, 2024
Idaho Cloud Seeding on Trial
Part 1: Liability Release Analysis

Why were cloud seeding operators given special liability protections in 2021?

HB 266 states, “The act of cloud seeding pursuant to a project funded in whole or in part by the state of Idaho or authorized by the state water resource board shall not be the basis of any claim of liability, including but not limited to trespass or public or private nuisance, and shall not require any state or local permits.”

Public concerns

What good is a program that requires liability protections? Where there is risk, there must be liability. Many Idahoans were alarmed by this language and wondered why citizens and private property rights were potentially put in harm’s way for an experimental program.

Cloud seeding is performed by either ground generators or aerial application. Both methods do not allow Idahoans to opt-out. Citizens began to wonder why cloud seeding operators asked for liability exemptions.

Risk of accident

According to a 2023 Idaho Aviation accident Score Card (IAASC) report, “Aircraft accidents increased from 24 in 2020 to 38 in 2021 – a 35% jump” Did Idaho Power, Idaho Water Resources, and cloud seeding stakeholders acknowledge aviation risk and ask for liability exemptions?

Risk of environmental impacts

“A 2016 study published by the National Library of Medicine found “cloud seeding may moderately affect biota living in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems if cloud seeding is repeatedly applied in a specific area and large amounts of seeding materials accumulate in the environment.” The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) must develop and test the accumulation levels of all chemical agents used in cloud seeding. This includes silver iodide and the impacts of liquid propane as well as all trace chemicals (discussed in an upcoming article). HB 266 allows cloud seeding operators to experiment without “state or local permits.” No permits and no liability for cloud seeding operators only increased public skepticism in the safety of the program.

Risk of infringement on private property rights

We will also investigate where cloud seeding generators are located and flight maps of aerial cloud seeding. If your property is located near these generators or within flight paths, ask yourself why cloud seeding operations, “shall not be the basis of any claim of liability, including but not limited to trespass or public or private nuisance.”

We will explore other reasons (from flooding to chemical use) Idahoans are asking questions and demanding accountability in this experimental cloud seeding program. This is part one of a four-part series.

SIGN THE PETITION

Unveiling the Chemicals: Transparency Concerns in Idaho’s Cloud Seeding Program

Idaho Cloud Seeding Raises Flood Concerns

What can you do?
1. Call or write your representative. Several representatives expressed support of our bill and, encouragingly, it was bipartisan support.
2. Sign the petition. If you are concerned with cloud seeding operators receiving special liability protections and would like to see responsible testing take place.
February 5, 2024
Weather Modification in Idaho
Idaho’s Cloud Seeding and Weather Modification: Addressing Concerns and Seeking Transparency

Watch this video of Miste Karlfeldt discussing the Idaho Water Resource Board and Cloud Seeding in Idaho with Dr. Daniel Bobinski of True Idaho News

In Idaho, cloud seeding and weather modification programs have raised legitimate concerns among residents who question whether we are unwitting subjects of experimental weather manipulation and what potential health impacts might arise from seeding our skies with chemicals that eventually return to earth. These concerns deserve thoughtful consideration, Health Freedom Idaho is calling for transparency and accountability in exposing our family’s potential health risks.

Meeting agenda: https://idwr.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/iwrb/2023/Cloud-Seeding-CommMeeting-No.-2-23MATERIALS.pdf
Zoom link to join the meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89715998383?pwd=Vk80cWZyZjFzdlZ6UEkrcHJqa3hGQT09
Meeting ID: 897 1599 8383
Passcode: 478824
Dial in Option: 1 (253) 215-8782

Experimental Manipulation of Weather

Residents have every right to question whether cloud seeding amounts to experimental weather manipulation. While cloud seeding is a recognized weather modification technique, it is crucial that these programs are conducted responsibly, with transparency, and within the bounds of established regulations. The Idaho Water Resource Board, responsible for overseeing such activities, must ensure that cloud seeding programs are based on sound scientific principles and are carried out with the utmost care. On September 6, 2023, they conducted a public meeting.

Health Impacts and Chemicals

One of the primary concerns centers around the chemicals used in cloud seeding, specifically silver iodide and calcium chloride. These substances, when released into the atmosphere, can return to the earth’s surface and potentially affect our environment, including our food, pets, and children. Idaho residents are subjects of comprehensive monitoring and research.

Those individuals responsible for weather modification do not completely understand the extent of these potential impacts. Does that concern you?

While silver iodide is generally considered safe when used in small quantities for cloud seeding, there are potential negative impacts and concerns associated with its use. These concerns include:
1. Environmental Impact: One of the primary concerns is the potential environmental impact of silver iodide. When released into the atmosphere, silver iodide particles can eventually fall to the ground and enter the environment. Accumulation of silver in soil and water bodies can be harmful to aquatic life and terrestrial ecosystems.
2. Water Contamination: Silver iodide can find its way into water bodies, potentially contaminating surface waters. Elevated silver levels in water can be toxic to aquatic organisms and disrupt ecosystems.
3. Human Health Concerns: While the concentrations of silver iodide used in cloud seeding are generally low and not considered harmful to human health, there are concerns about the potential inhalation of silver iodide particles. Inhaling silver iodide dust could potentially lead to respiratory irritation, although this risk is minimal under normal cloud seeding operations.
4. Ethical and Legal Concerns: Some individuals and communities raise ethical concerns about cloud seeding, including questions about informed consent and whether weather modification should be carried out without the consent of affected parties.
5. Unintended Consequences: The practice of cloud seeding aims to increase precipitation in specific regions, but there can be unintended consequences. Altering weather patterns through cloud seeding may affect downstream regions, potentially leading to water resource conflicts or other unintended impacts.
6. Effects on Local Climate: Altering local weather patterns through cloud seeding could have unforeseen effects on the climate and ecosystems of the targeted areas. These long-term effects require careful consideration and study.
Lack of Long-Term, Comprehensive Studies

There is a lack of comprehensive, long-term studies on the environmental and health impacts of silver iodide from cloud seeding. More research is needed to understand the full extent of potential negative effects. The call for long-term, comprehensive studies on the safety and efficacy of cloud seeding is entirely valid. To date, there remains a scarcity of in-depth research that can conclusively determine the practice’s impact on our environment and human health and its effectiveness in increasing precipitation. Transparency in sharing such studies when they become available is imperative to address public concerns. How do they conduct these studies without subjecting us to exposure to assess the risks?

Number of Cloud Seeding Stations: Idaho currently has multiple cloud seeding stations throughout the state. These stations work in collaboration with various weather modification programs and agencies to enhance precipitation in areas facing water scarcity.

Understanding Man’s Impact on Weather Systems: The extent of humanity’s impact on natural weather systems remains a subject of ongoing scientific study. Weather modification programs like cloud seeding are designed to enhance precipitation within the natural variability of weather patterns. Determining a direct link between cloud seeding and specific weather events, such as the “snowpocalypse” of 2015, is a complex challenge that requires comprehensive research and analysis.

The concerns of Idaho residents regarding cloud seeding and weather modification are valid and must be addressed. Transparency, rigorous research, and responsible oversight are essential to ensure that these programs are conducted safely and within the bounds of ethical and environmental considerations. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for transparency, engage in informed dialogue, and seek answers to legitimate questions as we navigate the complex realm of weather modification in Idaho. Only when citizens express concern and interest through open dialogue and call for transparent practices can we ensure the well-being of our communities and the preservation of our environment.
September 6, 2023