Texas Weather Modification Advisory Committee - August 25, 2011

Source: tdlr.state.tx.us



Weather Modification
The Texas Weather Modification Advisory Committee met August 25 in Austin. The agenda is available. The meeting was archived and is available for viewing on RealPlayer.

Rule Review – Adoption Justification, Chapter 79. Weather Modification

The Texas Weather Modification Advisory Committee met March 3 in Austin. The agenda is available online. The meeting was archived and is available for viewing with RealPlayer.

Vacancy on Weather Modification Advisory Committee - The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (Department) announces a vacancy on the Weather Modification Advisory Committee (Committee) established by Agriculture Code, Title 9, Weather and Climate, Chapter 301.

The purpose of the Weather Modification Advisory Committee is to advise the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (Commission) on legislation, policies, administration, research, and other matters related to the duties, powers, or function of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under this chapter. This announcement is for the position of an engineer.

Weather Modification - Currently, cloud-seeding projects designed to increase rainfall from convective cloud towers are conducted in nearly 31 million acres of Texas (or almost one-fifth of the state’s land area). In administering the Texas Weather Modification Act (enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1967), TDLR’s weather modification program issues licenses and permits for these projects, many of which have been in existence since 2000. The projects use specialized aircraft and sophisticated weather radar systems, operated by skilled meteorologists, at sites near Amarillo, Plains, Pecos, San Angelo, and Pleasanton. In addition, TDLR issues licenses and permits to other organizations, as well as individuals, responsible for carrying out weather modification operations for both rainfall enhancement and hail suppression. The aim of the regulatory function is to ensure that various methods of modifying the weather do not dissipate clouds nor inhibit their ability to produce rainfall to the detriment of people or property in the affected areas.

The program also sponsors and provides administrative and technical oversight for ongoing weather modification research and development activities. This includes the use of federal grants for exploratory, and confirmatory, cloud seeding experiments. TDLR issues reports on the results of cloud seeding research work and shares information on technological advances with other State agencies, governmental organizations, and interested individuals.

The TDLR staff also works with political subdivisions, other organizations, and individuals in the design, or modification, of rain enhancement projects as well as the implementation of new seeding strategies for augmenting rainfall over targeted watersheds. ~ Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (tdlr)

Related Links:
http://www.tdlr.state.tx.us/weather/weathermod.htm
http://www.tdlr.state.tx.us/weather/summary.htm
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