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Show 327 the most practical method of desalination of sea or other saline water.63 Artificial rainmaking poses several legal problems. These include possible liability arising from personal injury or prop- erty damage resulting from the artificially induced precipi- tation, and possible claim to property rights in weather.6* There is also the question of the nature and extent of possible governmental control. Fish and Wildlife Preservation Since water and land are both important to wildlife, prelim- inary note should be made of certain statutory provisions re- specting wildlife refuges. For example, in an Act establishing the Federal Aid to Wildlife Fund, Congress has provided that states constructing wildlife refuges which conform to standards fixed by the Secretary of the Interior may receive financial aid under a prescribed formula.55 Likewise, provision is made for federal acquisition of wildlife refuges under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act.56 Other statutes authorize federal acquisi- tion and development of specific areas of land and water for wildlife refuges.67 Of more direct relevance to our survey are certain pro- tective provisions of statutes concerning federal and licensed nonfederal developments. For example, since 1888 the Sec- retary of the Army has had discretionary authority to provide "sufficient fishways," whenever navigation improvements are 88 See, e. g., S. 1300; H. R. 265; H. R. 3123; H. R. 3650-all 81st Cong., 1st sess. (1949). ** Because of the recency of the development, precise legal principles have not yet evolved. See Ball, Shaping the Law of Weather Control, 58 Yale L. J. 213 (1949). "Act of September 2, 1937, 50 Stat. 917, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 669-6691. " Act of February 18,1929,45 Stat. 1222, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 715-715d, 715e, 715f-715k, 715Z-715r. " See, e. g., Act of June 7, 1924, 43 Stat. 650, as amended, 16 U. S. O. 721-731; Act of April 23, 1928, 45 Stat. 448, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 690- 690h; Act of June 12,1930,46 Stat. 579, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 691. |
