132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 825
S.P. 345 In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Prohibit Geoengineering, Including the Use of Cloud Seeding, Weather Modification, Excessive Radio Waves and Microwave Radiation
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BLACK of Franklin. (BY REQUEST)
Cosponsored by Representative GREENWOOD of Wales.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA Section 579-A is enacted to read:
Section 579-A. Geoengineering prohibited

Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Excessive electromagnetic, radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions" means:
(1) With respect to electromagnetic emissions:
(a) A low-frequency alternating current electric field in excess of one volt per meter;
(b) A magnetic field in excess of one milligauss;
(c) So-called dirty electricity caused by transients in electrical wiring that must be filtered for safety;
(d) Ionizing radiation in excess of 0.02 millisievert per hour;
(e) A laser or other light with harmful effects; or
(f) Any vibration, noise, sound amplification by stimulated emissions radiation, sonic weapon or other physical agent exceeding established guidelines or standards; and
(2) With respect to radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions, emissions of a signal strength in excess of -85 decibel-milliwatt for any frequency or channel band specified by a transmitting entity's transmission license.
B. "Geoengineering" means any intentional, large-scale intervention in Earth's natural systems, including, but not limited to, stratospheric aerosol injection; weather modification techniques; excessive electromagnetic, radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions; harmful nuclear, biological or chemical emissions; or other polluting atmospheric activity.
C. "Harmful nuclear, biological or chemical emissions" means any nuclear, biological or chemical emission that is xenobiotic and would otherwise not exist in the natural environment or that is otherwise found at xenobiotic levels or levels beyond the limit allowed under state or federal law.
D. "Solar radiation management" means any technique designed to reflect a portion of the sun's radiation back into space.
E. "Stratospheric aerosol injection" means the release of reflective sulfate or other aerosol particles into the stratosphere by high-altitude planes or blimps, tethered balloons, artillery or other means for the purpose of solar radiation management.
F. "Weather modification technique" means any technique designed to alter or attempt to alter Earth's natural weather patterns, including, but not limited to, cloud seeding.

Prohibition. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a person may not engage in any activity that constitutes or involves geoengineering.
Enforcement; investigations; violations. The department shall enforce the prohibition in this section. If the department discovers or is otherwise made aware of an activity that may constitute or involve geoengineering, the department shall immediately initiate appropriate investigative measures to determine whether a violation of this section is occurring or has occurred and shall issue to any person engaging in the activity a notice directing the person to cease all such activity that may be occurring in violation of this section.

Notwithstanding section 349, Title 17-A, section 1704, subsection 3 or any other provision of law to the contrary, a person that violates this section commits a Class C crime and is subject to a fine of $500,000 for each day the violation continues and any other applicable penalties under this Title or other provision of law or rule.

Activities involving Federal Government or other state or country. If the department determines that an activity that constitutes or involves geoengineering occurring or that had occurred within the State involves, directly or indirectly, the Federal Government, another state or another country, the department shall issue to the Federal Government or other state or country a notice that:

A. The activity is prohibited by law from occurring in or above the State; and
B. The Federal Government or other state or country is prohibited from engaging in any future atmospheric activities in or above the State, regardless of whether such activities involve or constitute geoengineering.

Reporting of violations. The department shall post on its publicly accessible website information regarding the prohibition under this section and encouraging the public to monitor, measure, document and report to the department incidents that may constitute or involve geoengineering. Upon receipt of any such report, the department shall immediately initiate appropriate investigative measures to determine whether a violation of this section is occurring or has occurred.

SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from engaging in any activity that constitutes or involves geoengineering. "Geoengineering" is defined in the bill as any intentional, large-scale intervention in Earth's natural systems and includes stratospheric aerosol injection; weather modification techniques; excessive electromagnetic, radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions; harmful nuclear, biological or chemical emissions; or other polluting atmospheric activity. The Department of Environmental Protection is charged with enforcing the prohibition, and a person that violates the prohibition commits a Class C crime and is subject to a fine of $500,000 for each day the violation continues and any other applicable penalties under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38 or other provision of law or rule.