Notes on 15 U.S.C. § 330 : US Code - Notes

Search Notes on 15 U.S.C. § 330 : US Code - Notes

(Pub. L. 92-205, Sec. 1, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 735.)
SHORT TITLE
Pub. L. 92-205, which is classified to this chapter, is popularly
known as the "Weather Modification Reporting Act of 1972".
NATIONAL WEATHER MODIFICATION POLICY ACT OF 1976
Pub. L. 94-490, Secs. 1-6(a), Oct. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 2359-2361,
provided:
"[Section 1]. That this Act may be cited as the National Weather
Modification Policy Act of 1976.
"Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.
"(a) Findings. - The Congress finds and declares the following:
"(1) Weather-related disasters and hazards, including drought,
hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, lightning, fog, floods, and frost,
result in substantial human suffering and loss of life, billions
of dollars of annual economic losses to owners of crops and other
property, and substantial financial loss to the United States
Treasury;
"(2) Weather modification technology has significant potential
for preventing, diverting, moderating, or ameliorating the
adverse effects of such disasters and hazards and enhancing crop
production and the availability of water;
"(3) The interstate nature of climatic and related phenomena,
the severe economic hardships experienced as the result of
occasional drought and other adverse meteorological conditions,
and the existing role and responsibilities of the Federal
Government with respect to disaster relief, require appropriate
Federal action to prevent or alleviate such disasters and
hazards; and
"(4) Weather modification programs may have long-range and
unexpected effects on existing climatic patterns which are not
confined by national boundaries.
"(b) Purpose. - It is therefore declared to be the purpose of the
Congress in this Act to develop a comprehensive and coordinated
national weather modification policy and a national program of
weather modification research and development -
"(1) to determine the means by which deliberate weather
modification can be used at the present time to decrease the
adverse impact of weather on agriculture, economic growth, and
the general public welfare, and to determine the potential for
weather modification;
"(2) to conduct research into those scientific areas considered
most likely to lead to practical techniques for drought
prevention or alleviation and other forms of deliberate weather
modification;
"(3) to develop practical methods and devices for weather
modification;
"(4) to make weather modification research findings available
to interested parties;
"(5) to assess the economic, social, environmental, and legal
impact of an operational weather modification program;
"(6) to develop both national and international mechanisms
designed to minimize conflicts which may arise with respect to
the peaceful uses of weather modification; and
"(7) to integrate the results of existing experience and
studies in weather modification activities into model codes and
agreements for regulation of domestic and international weather
modification activities.
"Sec. 3. Definitions.
"As used in this Act:
"(1) The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Commerce.
"(2) The term 'State' means any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia, or any Commonwealth, territory, or possession
of the United States.
"(3) The term 'weather modification' means any activity performed
with the intention and expectation of producing changes in
precipitation, wind, fog, lightning, and other atmospheric
phenomena.
"Sec. 4. Study.
"The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive investigation and
study of the state of scientific knowledge concerning weather
modification, the present state of development of weather
modification technology, the problems impeding effective
implementation of weather modification technology, and other
related matters. Such study shall include -
"(1) a review and analysis of the present and past research
efforts to establish practical weather modification technology,
particularly as it relates to reducing loss of life and crop and
property destruction;
"(2) a review and analysis of research needs in weather
modification to establish areas in which more research could be
expected to yield the greatest return in terms of practical
weather modification technology;
"(3) a review and analysis of existing studies to establish the
probable economic importance to the United States in terms of
agricultural production, energy, and related economic factors if
the present weather modification technology were to be
effectively implemented;
"(4) an assessment of the legal, social, and ecological
implications of expanded and effective research and operational
weather modification projects;
"(5) formulation of one or more options for a model regulatory
code for domestic weather modification activities, such code to
be based on a review and analysis of experience and studies in
this area, and to be adaptable to State and national needs;
"(6) recommendations concerning legislation desirable at all
levels of government to implement a national weather modification
policy and program;
"(7) a review of the international importance and implications
of weather modification activities by the United States;
"(8) a review and analysis of present and past funding for
weather modification from all sources to determine the sources
and adequacy of funding in the light of the needs of the Nation;
"(9) a review and analysis of the purpose, policy, methods, and
funding of the Federal departments and agencies involved in
weather modification and of the existing interagency coordination
of weather modification research efforts;
"(10) a review and analysis of the necessity and feasibility of
negotiating an international agreement concerning the peaceful
uses of weather modification; and
"(11) formulation of one or more options for a model
international agreement concerning the peaceful uses of weather
modification and the regulation of national weather modification
activities; and a review and analysis of the necessity and
feasibility of negotiating such an agreement.
"Sec. 5. Report.
"(a) In General. - The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the
President and the Congress, within 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 1976], a final report on the
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study conducted
pursuant to section 4. Such report shall include:
"(1) a summary of the findings made with respect to each of the
areas of investigation specified in section 4;
"(2) other findings which are pertinent to the determination
and implementation of a national policy on weather modifications;
"(3) a recommended national policy on weather modification and
a recommended national weather modification research and
development program which is consistent with, and likely to
contribute to, achieving the objectives of such policy;
"(4) recommendations for levels of Federal funding sufficient
to support adequately a national weather modification research
and development program;
"(5) recommendations for any changes in the organization and
involvement of Federal departments and agencies in weather
modification which may be needed to implement effectively the
recommended national policy on weather modification and the
recommended research and development program; and
"(6) recommendations for any regulatory and other legislation
which may be required to implement such policy and program or for
any international agreement which may be appropriate concerning
the peaceful uses of weather modification, including
recommendations concerning the dissemination, refinement, and
possible implementation of the model domestic code and
international agreement developed under the specifications of
section 4.
Each department, agency, and other instrumentality of the Federal
Government is authorized and directed to furnish the Secretary any
information which the Secretary deems necessary to carry out his
functions under this Act.
"(b) Operation and Consultation. - The Secretary shall solicit
and consider the views of State agencies, private firms,
institutions of higher learning, and other interested persons and
governmental entities in the conduct of the study required by
section 4, and in the preparation of the report required by
subsection (a).
"Sec. 6. Authorization for Appropriations.
"(a) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for
the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act not to
exceed $1,000,000."