HB 5160
Prohibition of geoengineering
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill creates the Atmospheric Intervention Oversight and Public Safety Act to prohibit unauthorized atmospheric modification activities within West Virginia. It establishes a framework for the Department of Environmental Protection to oversee and regulate such activities, including cloud seeding and directed-energy heating. The bill also authorizes the Air National Guard to assist in monitoring and enforcement, and outlines penalties for violations, aiming to protect the state’s air and atmosphere and safeguard public health and sovereignty.
Key provisions
- Prohibits unauthorized atmospheric modification activities, including stratospheric aerosol injection and cloud seeding.
- Authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to permit, condition, or deny applications for atmospheric interventions.
- Empowers the Air National Guard to assist in detection and monitoring of suspected unauthorized activities.
- Establishes penalties for violations, including civil fines and potential felony charges for malicious actors.
- Creates the Atmospheric Oversight Fund to support enforcement and monitoring efforts.
- Permits the state to pursue enforcement actions and interstate cooperation against violations.
- Requires the Department to maintain a public online database of reported incidents.
- Allows for the establishment of interstate compacts to address transboundary atmospheric modification.
Who is affected
- West Virginia Residents
- The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
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