Connecticut : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB00417
An Act Concerning Permit Requirements For Cloud Seeding Activities In The State.
Sponsor: Sen Saud Anwar & Sen Jeff Gordon
Bill Details
To protect public safety, health and the environment from any unreasonably risky weather modification activities.
Bill summary (AI generated)
Laws and Requirements Proposed by SB00417
The bill sought to amend the general statutes to introduce a regulatory framework for weather modification activities within the state. The primary requirements it aimed to establish were centered around permitting, disclosure, and risk assessment:
1. Permit Requirement: The bill would require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to develop a permit for undertaking any weather modification techniques in the state, specifically mentioning cloud seeding.
2. Pre-Activity Mandate: This permit would be required before undertaking any such weather modification activity.
3. Disclosure and Assessment: The applicant seeking the permit would be required to:
â—¦ Disclose the details of such activities to DEEP.
â—¦ Undertake an environmental impact assessment. This assessment is necessary to evaluate potential risks and ensure the protection of public health, safety, and the environment.
4. Prohibition or Control: The bill proposed that any activity found to have significant adverse effects would be prohibited or strictly controlled.
The stated Statement of Purpose for SB00417 was explicitly to protect public safety, health and the environment from any unreasonably risky weather modification activities.
Enforcement Provisions Within the Bill
BILL SB00417 focuses on creating the permit system and regulatory standards (disclosure, assessment, prohibition).
While the law states that activities with significant adverse effects "would be prohibited or strictly controlled", the provided text of the bill does not define specific enforcement mechanisms, fines, or penalties for failure to comply with the permit requirement or for conducting a prohibited activity. The bill establishes the requirement for the permit and the environmental review but does not detail the consequences for violation.
It is worth noting that while SB00417 addresses weather modification (which includes cloud seeding), federal law already requires all persons intending to engage in weather modification activities in the United States to provide a report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at least 10 days prior to undertaking the activity, under the Weather Modification Reporting Act (WMRA) of 1972. Failure to report under WMRA can result in fines of up to $10,000.
History
The bill was filed in November 2024 and, as of January 2025, it has been referred to the Joint Committee on Environment for review. Following this referral, there have been discussions and amendments in relevant committees, and the bill received a mixed vote during deliberations. Most recently, it has been introduced and read for the first time in the legislature. The next steps involve further committee reviews and potential votes in the coming sessions, as it is still an active piece of legislation. The bill has not yet failed or passed.
- Fri 10 Jan 2025 Referred to Joint Committee on Environment
Bill text (Transcribed)
Connecticut : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB00417
An Act Concerning Permit Requirements For Cloud Seeding Activities In The State.
General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 417
January Session, 2025
Introduced by:
SEN. ANWAR, 3rd Dist.
AN ACT CONCERNING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
That the general statutes be amended to require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop a permit for undertaking any weather modification techniques in the state, including cloud seeding. Additionally, such permit shall be required before undertaking any such activity and the applicant shall be required to disclose to such agency such activities and undertake an environmental impact assessment to evaluate potential risks and ensure public health and safety and protection of the environment. As well, any such activity that has significant adverse effects would be prohibited or strictly controlled.
Statement of Purpose:
To protect public safety, health and the environment from any unreasonably risky weather modification activities.
An Act Concerning Permit Requirements For Cloud Seeding Activities In The State.
General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 417
January Session, 2025
Introduced by:
SEN. ANWAR, 3rd Dist.
AN ACT CONCERNING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
That the general statutes be amended to require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop a permit for undertaking any weather modification techniques in the state, including cloud seeding. Additionally, such permit shall be required before undertaking any such activity and the applicant shall be required to disclose to such agency such activities and undertake an environmental impact assessment to evaluate potential risks and ensure public health and safety and protection of the environment. As well, any such activity that has significant adverse effects would be prohibited or strictly controlled.
Statement of Purpose:
To protect public safety, health and the environment from any unreasonably risky weather modification activities.