AN ACT relating to environmental quality; prohibiting the release of atmospheric contaminants into the airspace above Wyoming as specified; providing legislative findings; providing definitions; authorizing the director of the department of environmental quality to monitor compliance with this act and issue cease and desist orders as specified; prohibiting retaliation against persons who report violations of this act; providing criminal penalties; providing positions; providing appropriations; requiring rulemaking; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.
Impact
If enacted, HB0012 would empower the Department of Environmental Quality to monitor compliance with its provisions and issue cease and desist orders against violations. The bill outlines severe penalties for violations, distinguishing between first and subsequent offenses as felonies. The state engineer would also play a role in regulating experimental activities, with the authority to procure and manage funding for these efforts. This legislation aims to cement Wyoming's authority over local environmental issues and assert state sovereignty in managing atmospheric interventions.
Summary
House Bill 0012, titled the Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act, aims to prohibit the release of atmospheric contaminants in Wyoming's airspace. The bill includes findings that underscore the potential risks posed by atmospheric modification experiments, asserting that these activities could threaten public health, agriculture, and the environment. It establishes definitions of terms related to atmospheric contaminations, such as geoengineering and solar radiation management, and articulates legislative intent to safeguard environmental quality and air safety within the state.
Contention
The bill's intent to prohibit atmospheric modification has raised concerns regarding its impact on legitimate and lawfully permitted activities, such as cloud seeding for agricultural purposes. Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect public health from unknown risks associated with geoengineering practices. However, opponents may contend that the bill could unnecessarily restrict scientific research and innovation in environmental management. The legislation reflects a broader tension between environmental regulation and agricultural advancement solutions, highlighting the complexity of balancing public safety with agricultural interests.
Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts ActThis bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program.In carrying out the program, NOAA must seek to reduce loss of life and property and other economic losses caused by atmospheric river events through research and development on accurate, effective, and actionable forecasting and warnings. The program must generally involve the establishment of quantitative atmospheric river forecast skill metrics, the development of an atmospheric river forecast system within a unified forecast system, and the development of tools and products to predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river landfalls and inland penetration, among other activities. The program must periodically test and evaluate the value of incorporating innovative observations (e.g., observations from radar, aircraft, ocean buoys, and other sources) to facilitate the improvement of modeling and forecasting. The program must also consider the development of best practices for communicating the existence and severity of atmospheric river events, as well as other information about atmospheric rivers. The program may seek to improve precipitation modeling, with an emphasis on forecasting for complex terrain. The bill also requires NOAA to acquire and sustain adequate crewed and uncrewed aircraft (i.e., drones), equipment, and personnel necessary to meet air reconnaissance mission requirements annually during the expected atmospheric river season (November through March).