Missouri Bill: SB 860

This bill creates comprehensive regulations for weather modification in Missouri, establishing new legal provisions that prohibit most forms of weather modification activities. The bill defines weather modification as any intentional attempt to alter atmospheric conditions, including cloud seeding, dispersing substances into the air to change cloud processes, or dropping chemicals from aircraft. Under the proposed law, it would be unlawful to conduct weather modification without strict compliance with new requirements. Anyone deploying chemicals into the atmosphere must disclose the chemical contents to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and post a $25 million bond to cover potential environmental damages. The bill also creates a public reporting mechanism for citizens to report suspected weather modification activities, and grants the department authority to investigate reports and potentially pursue civil actions with damages and injunctive relief. Additionally, the bill modifies the composition of the Air Conservation Commission and Clean Water Commission by adding an eighth member who is knowledgeable about weather modification to each commission. The bill specifically exempts standard pesticide use in farming and ranching operations from these restrictions. The Department of Natural Resources is tasked with creating rules to enforce these provisions and must report known weather modification instances to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.