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Show The Assistant General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, Associate Solicitor for the Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of the Interior, and Associate Solicitor of the Division of Water and Power Resources of the Department of the Interior have investigated the question. They have concluded that " specifically, the Act does not have any express prohibition, but the sense of the Congress, as expressed in the Act, is to preserve such areas in their natural condition." And, it was tentatively agreed that " if cloud seeding or other weather modification program only produced a transitory insignificant impact on the ecology of the area, it would not be contrary to the provisions of the Act." This indicates that the question of whether cloud seeding is in violation of the Wilderness Act appears to be resolved, unless further studies determine that cloud seeding produces more than a transitory insignificant impact on the ecology of the area. Ecological studies currently underway in Project Skywater are intended to provide this type of information. Present Environment The Wasatch Mountain Range in the central part of Utah, with its high peaks, presents a favorable target area for cloud seeding over 200 miles long and roughly 30 miles wide. A cover of native trees, shrubs, and grasses provides a good watershed and adequate cover and habitat for big game and other wildlife. The frontal streams generally have steep gradients, with few opportunities for storage reservoirs. This is also a scenic area that is quite highly developed for recreational use. Environmental Impacts of Weather Modification The environmental impacts of this program may be divided into two aspects: the effects of the artificial nuclei and the effects cf the additional precipitation. !• Effects of the Artificial Nuclei Silver iodide is the most commonly used artificial nucleating agent. Silver in precipitation can be detected in concentrations as low as 0.03 x 10""-^ grams per milliliter ( g/ ml), using atomic absorption flame spectrophotometry. 509 |
