Revision: March 12, 2025, 12:21 p.m.
Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19
Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4
Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2
Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3
Rep. Ploszaj, Belk. 1
Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30
Rep. Vandecasteele, Rock. 25
Rep. Morse, Merr. 3
Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36
February 3, 2025
2025-0969h
08/11
Floor Amendment to HB 764-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT prohibiting the intentional release of polluting emissions, including cloud seeding and weather modification.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 Short Title. This act may be cited as "The Clean Atmosphere Preservation Act."
2 Findings. The general court finds:
I. Many atmospheric activities such as weather modification, stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), solar radiation modification (SRM), and other forms of geoengineering, involving the intentional release of polluting emissions, harm human health and safety, the environment, agriculture, wildlife, aviation, state security, and the economy of the state of New Hampshire.
II. It is therefore the intention of the general court to prohibit the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight. Prohibiting geoengineering (SAI and SRM) and other intentionally polluting activities in New Hampshire's atmosphere and/or at ground level, as further set forth by the terms and provisions of this chapter to preserve the safe, healthful, and peaceful uses of New Hampshire’s atmosphere for people, wildlife, and agriculture by prohibiting deliberate atmospheric pollution and manipulation of the environment.
III. Due to necessity arising from the federal stance and the potential and ease for enemies, foreign and domestic, to cause harm intentionally, states’ “rights”, including their authorities, are correctly exerted pursuant to the Tenth Amendment, where federal programs and restrictions have become oppressive or destructive.
3 New Subdivision; Air Pollution Control; Geoengineering Prohibited. Amend RSA 125-C by inserting after section 21 the following new subdivision:
Geoengineering Prohibited
125-C:22 Geoengineering Prohibited. No person shall engage in geoengineering activities, including weather modification, stratospheric aerosol injection, or solar radiation modification involving the intentional release of polluting emissions.
125-C:23 Exemption for Cloud Seeding Weather Modification in Case of a Catastrophic Drought.
I. Notwithstanding RSA 135-C:22, cloud seeding may only occur in New Hampshire under the following conditions:
(a) The governor, upon the recommendation of the department of environmental services or other relevant agencies, shall declare a state of emergency in response to a catastrophic drought.
(b) A state of emergency for a catastrophic drought shall only be declared when the drought is severe enough to pose a significant risk to the state's water supply, agriculture, public health, or economic stability.
(c) The state of emergency shall be officially documented and published by the governor’s office in accordance with RSA 4:45, and shall include a clear statement that cloud seeding is a necessary measure to mitigate the impacts of the drought.
II. Prior to engaging in cloud seeding, the state shall conduct a 14-day environmental review, assessing potential risks and benefits, and ensuring that the activities will not result in harm to the environment, public health, or wildlife.
III. The department of environmental services shall maintain oversight of all cloud seeding activities to ensure compliance with regulations and to assess the effectiveness of cloud seeding operations. At least one month prior to the presentation of any cloud seeding activities brought forth by the governor, upon the recommendation of the department of environmental services or other relevant agencies, the department of environmental services shall do the following:
(a) Place a public notice in at least 4 newspapers within the state and on the departmental Internet website informing the public of the date and type of the proposed weather modification program or experimentation events within the state.
(b) Disclose to the public the chemical compounds and technologies to be used in the proposed weather modification program or experimentation events in the state, including the effects of the program or experimentation on human health, what wildlife and wildlife habitats may be affected, and the source of funding to perform such program or experimentation.
4 Notice of Prohibition. The commissioner of the department of environmental services shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this section, provide notice to the following entities that geoengineering is prohibited in the state of New Hampshire:
I.· National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
II. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
III. ·The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
IV. The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).
V. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
VI. The Department of Energy (DOE).
VII. The DOE Meteorological Coordinating Council (DMCC).
VIII. The National Science Foundation (NSF).
IX. The Department of Defense (DOD).
X. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
XI. TheDepartment of State (DOS).
XII. The National Weather Service (NWS).
XIII. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
XIV. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
XV. Office of Science / Biological and Environmental Research (BER).
XVI. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
XVII. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
XVIII. Earth Science Research (ESD).
XIX. United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
XX. The National Park Service (NPS).
XXI. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
XXII. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
XXIII. The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO).
XXIV. The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).
XXV. The Department of Commerce (DOC).
5 Repeal. RSA 12-F, relative to weather modification, is repealed.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 45 days after its passage.
2025-0969h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits geoengineering, including the intentional release of polluting emissions, makes an exception for the use of cloud seeding during a catastrophic drought, and requires the commissioner of the department of environmental services to notify federal agencies of the prohibition in the state of New Hampshire.