[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,86],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480174,"mediaKeyId","5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df","parentId",5691683,"title","Residents urge legislature to investigate geoengineering and ‘chemtrails’; scientists and municipal leaders disagree on evidence and priorities","audioSeconds",1474,"startMs",7266000,"endMs",8740000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df&start=7266&end=8740","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df/thumbnail_7266000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480174/Wyoming/Residents-urge-legislature-to-investigate-geoengineering-and-chemtrails-scientists-and-municipal-leaders-disagree-on-evidence-and-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480174-b9c3b3dd82b6e39cb70728dc48205d47/orig.mp4?Expires=1770041291&Signature=hT04IelW5JPdiyrGpzdCdgqLFDIXHp2TIGjR2IpDfY5pjAVk7-mVFCSe04dOull3PA~c4c0vUlJaHFtFO9KYfJj7CEML6XAS3m6-kjMUo5F7617fLaXmYaA8Yvraq5TfFoslKZAdj2frAqVc8YT3j5QcOHl0EwluL~dVx5epMLDBMsoescJ~j3gUokJLHA8FjrxtlDHT-o0jBOM4gbR-QaLu~QKqStEt3eAjK9ekj6DnZ2STRWTBhtUrOeaIH1jmq4yXJYW~PqFfKq7EcSAHMF0MamEtUMjk-7q~nsUrIx~uALbBMGhk9L8bpyWWSKgbwfmGFT6DaM51OLGCVB2p6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-08-29T00:48:03Z","article","CHEYENNE — During a public‑comment portion of the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee meeting, several residents urged the Legislature to investigate and prohibit what they described as large‑scale atmospheric geoengineering and unreported aerial spraying. Those speakers used the shorthand terms “chemtrails” and “stratospheric aerosol injection” in urging state action; others at the hearing cautioned that these claims are not the same as the state’s cloud seeding program and that policy responses should be evidence‑based.

Tony Locke of Casper told the committee he was asking legislators to “take action against… high altitude aerosol injection of chemicals and metals into the atmosphere over Wyoming,” saying he had observed grid‑like patterns and persistent haze. Jamie Locke, also of Casper, described the activity as “geoengineering” and urged legislation, and multiple other commenters asserted they had laboratory or microscopy evidence of unusual particles in snow, soil or human biological samples.

Maria Crisler, who identified herself as an independent clinical research scientist and microscope user, said she had analyzed Wyoming snow samples and reported seeing elemental particles including silicon nanoparticles, yttrium, platinum, strontium, tellurium and thallium. Crisler and others asked the committee to fund state testing, to prohibit unauthorized dispersals and to seek transparency from federal agencies.

Speakers who support cloud seeding and municipal water managers disagreed about how to interpret those public claims. Brad Brooks, director of Cheyenne’s Board of Public Utilities, and Brian Seppi of the Green River Rock Springs‑Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board told the committee they view cloud seeding as a potential low‑cost tool to augment scarce water supplies and asked that the Legislature consider funding. Brooks said the city has spent nearly $500,000 over eight years on seeding participation and argued program support helps protect municipal water supplies in the event of Colorado River curtailments.

Several commenters urged the committee to distinguish cloud seeding — small, targeted releases of seeding agents intended to increase precipitation over particular mountain ranges — from alleged global or stratospheric aerosol programs. Committee members asked staff and witnesses whether independent, third‑party testing and a state‑level research effort could clarify what is being observed in Wyoming skies.

The Government Accountability Office’s December 2024 cloud‑seeding report was referenced by a public commenter who said the GAO found cloud seeding effectiveness remains uncertain in many cases; speakers on both sides urged the committee to rely on peer‑reviewed science and to commission independent environmental testing if legislators want more data.

Ending: The committee agreed to accept further written material and directed staff to take the public record into account as lawmakers consider a set of potential draft measures. The public testimony made clear there is community concern and disagreement about what is visible in Wyoming skies and what, if anything, the state should regulate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, August 28, 2025 - PM","oneSentenceSummary","Residents who described grid‑pattern trails and unusual particles in snow urged the committee to ban or investigate large‑scale geoengineering and stratospheric aerosol releases; municipal water managers and program scientists said cloud seeding is a distinct, targeted activity and recommended third‑party testing and peer‑reviewed evaluation.","taxTitle","Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61176,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480179,"Wyoming committee hears detailed scientific briefing on cloud seeding, operations and costs",0,2749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df&start=2749&end=2749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df/thumbnail_2749000.jpg","/articles/6480179/Wyoming/Wyoming-committee-hears-detailed-scientific-briefing-on-cloud-seeding-operations-and-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480179-f766e22fb53a042a90aabd122578b1de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770041291&Signature=eElzUH5ZI3v7q2Oq-Sd9U-KVTfgl~zwklCqsVYfRbl6T~~74msour1hgGrNP4irwkrPjTLnweJOYUX5nWnAsgwOxQ1ixMalzO87cZhfQkpSMq47McXsGnZT-Z8wLlPr5355-893wkF1GQZdstrhXtxLHVQ~0AsyXhYBWMc6kpehAKSUq4plo9NqaboKkQ5frAuP5c8ja9sFLn7yLARpJFVEVMzaXwJCD3aVlhBnxSjroCA~NPbR-5NSpvFzhs08BkXCdOVbhfcEMz3qqWCDtbSyZvJNyRvu0BaJdzbb6GM7dBHL9Cd57HaEsKcP0KSrtRBIX8MVACr~jKN2-wWmZ6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CHEYENNE — Scientists and program managers told the Wyoming Legislature’s Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee that cloud seeding can increase precipitation under certain conditions but that precise seasonal benefits remain uncertain, and that the state’s program faces funding constraints.

In a presentation spanning the program’s science, operations and environmental monitoring, Barry Lawrence, deputy director at the Wyoming Water Development Office, introduced speakers from the University of Wyoming, Heritage Environmental, the University of Wisconsin and the Utah Division of Water Resources. Dr. Jeff French of the University of Wyoming summarized the meteorological basis for winter “glaciogenic” cloud seeding and cautioned: “Cloud seeding does not create clouds out of clear sky.”

The presenters described how seeding agents such as silver iodide are intended to encourage ice formation in supercooled liquid clouds (clouds below freezing but composed largely of liquid droplets). French said research groups have moved beyond simple statistical comparisons to experiments that combine targeted observations and numerical modeling to link seeding inputs to physical changes in clouds. He cited the SNOWIE experiment (2017) and related modeling and publication efforts that identified measurable ice‑formation signatures in some cases and produced estimates of seasonal impacts when models are validated against those observations.

Wyoming’s program history and operations were reviewed by Lawrence. He said airborne funding and operations were cut in the most recent legislative session and that the ground‑based component would operate only if 100% of its funding were provided by Colorado River water users or other partners. Lawrence described Wyoming’s ground network as 13 generators (10 in the Wind River Range, 3 in the Sierra Madres) with remote monitoring, 24/7 seasonal operations and periodic site visits for maintenance. He told the committee generator run‑hours for the 2024–25 season and noted the Sierra Madre targets received a large share of seeding hours this winter.

On cost and yield, presenters gave ranges rather than single values. Lawrence and the Water Development Office cited prior Wyoming studies and a hydrologic evaluation that produced ensemble mean cost estimates in a range roughly between about $35 and $125 per additional acre‑foot depending on method and target (airborne vs. streamflow estimates), with several study designs and years producing different results. Jonathan Jennings of Utah said Utah’s program estimates have been materially lower in some years (he cited figures around $27 per acre‑foot in a higher‑capacity program) but emphasized that cost per acre‑foot depends heavily on program scale, generator density, instrumentation and whether airborne or drone methods are used.

Environmental monitoring and toxicity were addressed by Patrick Golden (Heritage Environmental) and Dr. Ross Edwards (University of Wisconsin). They summarized trace‑chemistry studies done around cloud seeding projects: silver is detectable in snow and stream samples at parts‑per‑trillion levels in many baseline measurements, and silver iodide is far less soluble than silver nitrate. Edwards said regulatory water‑quality thresholds for dissolved silver are orders of magnitude higher than typical trace detections from seeding operations and that most silver in natural soils and sediments is present at levels far above the tiny additions expected from seeding. Golden said environmental assessments for prior Wyoming projects resulted in findings of no significant impact and noted that permitting processes (NEPA for federal lands; temporary use permits on state lands) had been completed for earlier operational phases.

Committee members pressed presenters on the limits of certainty. One legislator said he remained skeptical about role of state funding and value for taxpayers; presenters replied that the scientific understanding has advanced substantially in the last two decades but that exact seasonal gains and downstream effects remain topics for continued research and calibrated modeling.

The committee also heard operational context: Wyoming participates in a multistate program to augment Colorado River streamflow; the 2018 basin agreement and subsequent cost‑sharing from lower‑basin agencies have previously supported research and operations. Lawrence and others emphasized that program design, generator density, and instrumentation (radars, radiometers, aircraft or drones) materially affect evaluations and costs.

The session concluded with committee members and presenters agreeing the science has advanced but also identifying clear remaining research needs — especially calibrated seasonal modeling, denser observation networks and third‑party evaluations to reduce uncertainty about magnitude and distribution of any benefits.

Ending: Committee members asked staff to draft follow‑up materials and indicated interest in more detailed hydrologic and cost analyses before making new funding decisions.","State and university scientists briefed the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on how Wyoming’s cloud seeding program works, what the research shows about likely effects, costs per acre‑foot and the program’s operational status after recent budget cuts.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480170,"Committee asks staff to draft cloud‑seeding and geoengineering measures; proposal to license veterinary technicians fails on roll call",2861,12794000,15655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df&start=12794&end=15655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691683-a9c70af3fa26030996be79f5f5e390df/thumbnail_12794000.jpg","/articles/6480170/Wyoming/Committee-asks-staff-to-draft-cloudseeding-and-geoengineering-measures-proposal-to-license-veterinary-technicians-fails-on-roll-call","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480170-a7b293f6d10db2df65d8e356ceaf35d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770041291&Signature=FEP9b1lwKYizkqgEPaKaKYXn0zWagupcrjaGntEfbl0Vz7VvI~xNiBkdJKmxeXKW5Bfs5auMWYWtEDje2b0YM3LW5WDJ0keqTUg-S9xmIsdEZpPkDrJlMUe-uAkOhSLZaDSIwzARZwz-Rxx-2VqyyAa~Z1KZgqX8OWTN5MV8WgpaPYFlh-idRQZqFQtlf-Y6B-Bva4UI0Mp451NGERuWKHx6f6tg9elaf-ObC6SV4iiD45A8WaJGAVPEukndcyYRaH8pbclc158FjzdvK-k2DSTtc6P8vx1a~8ImgX5qChxFs0C9JK1bAd7QkovsAjn63oeUUxPY5vrCDgIFV19CAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CHEYENNE — Committee members voted to ask Legislative Service Office (LSO) staff to prepare drafts of measures relating to cloud seeding and to prohibit unauthorized atmospheric geoengineering, and approved a joint resolution instructing the federal delegation to examine atmospheric activities — moves that committee members said were intended to create a formal record and allow detailed drafting and vetting. Separately, a proposed bill to license veterinary technicians did not pass the committee on a roll call vote (6 in favor, 7 opposed).

Representative Mike Schmidt introduced three items the committee agreed to send to LSO for drafting: 1) a proposed “Cloud Seeding Moratorium and Baseline Act” that would pause cloud seeding operations for a limited time to collect unseeded baseline precipitation and hydrologic data; 2) a “Wyoming Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act” that would prohibit unauthorized atmospheric geoengineering activities and set penalties; and 3) a joint legislative resolution asking the federal delegation to examine aerial activities affecting Wyoming skies.

Committee discussion focused on process and evidence. Some members objected to moving drafts forward without more time for public review; others said many constituents had traveled for the hearing and requested that staff create bill drafts so stakeholders and technical experts could work through language. Lawmakers debated whether the state should create a research‑only path or a temporary prohibition to allow collection of baseline data; Representative Schmidt said he sought a 10‑year moratorium (later discussion indicated the duration could be negotiated). Several legislators asked LSO to produce bill drafts so the committee could see legal language and definitions before final decisions.

On the animal‑health item, the committee considered draft legislation to create a state‑level veterinary‑technician license (the measure would define a veterinary technician, set training or experience pathways, require registration or examination, and extend board enforcement authority). Dozens of practicing veterinarians, livestock groups and municipal water and ag organizations testified in favor during the meeting, saying licensed technicians would professionalize the occupation and help address workforce shortages. Opponents on the committee raised concerns about expanding professional licensure and about the bill’s legacy clause that would have allowed long‑service assistants to qualify without a national examination. The committee held a roll call on the veterinary‑technician draft; the measure failed on a 6–7 vote.

Committee leaders directed staff to work with the sponsor and stakeholders to prepare bill drafts for further committee consideration in the current legislative session. Committee members said drafting by LSO would allow the public and technical experts to review formal legal text before further action.

Ending: The committee advanced the cloud‑seeding/geoengineering drafting requests and the joint resolution to LSO for legislation drafting; the veterinary‑technician proposal did not pass the committee on a recorded 6–7 vote. The committee invited additional written material and follow‑up analyses from technical witnesses and municipal water managers.","The Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee voted to ask staff to draft two measures related to cloud seeding and geoengineering and a joint resolution; a separate proposal to license veterinary technicians was considered and failed on a roll call vote, 6–7.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge legislature to investigate geoengineering and ‘chemtrails’; scientists and municipal leaders disagree on evidence and priorities

Wyoming committee hears detailed scientific briefing on cloud seeding, operations and costs

Committee asks staff to draft cloud‑seeding and geoengineering measures; proposal to license veterinary technicians fails on roll call