Public notice for weather modification operations in West Texas for agricultural purposes.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONDUCT WEATHER MODIFICATION OPERATIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
Date of the first of three weekly publications of this notice: 03/16/2026, in the San Angelo Standard Times published in Tom Green County, Texas.
1. Notice is hereby given that the West Texas Weather Modification Association has filed an application with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for a State permit to conduct weather modification operations to change, or attempt to change, the natural development of clouds for the purpose, objective, period, and by the method summarized herein below.
2. The West Texas Weather Modification Association, a State of Texas licensee since 1996, has also filed an application to renew its Texas weather-modification license, to be issued by TDLR.
3. The purpose of the proposed weather-modification operation is to augment rainfall for agricultural and water resources and to suppress hail within the target area of the West Texas Weather Modification Association. The requested period of the permit is 4 years from the date of issuance of the permit.
4. The proposed weather-modification operation is to be carried out in both an operational area and a target area, to cause the intended effect(s) to occur only in the target area. The operational area is composed of the target area as well as the following counties. Glasscock, Howard, Mitchell, Coke, Runnels, Reagan, Concho, Menard, Sutton, Kimble, and Pecos.
5. The area to be affected by the proposed weather-modification operation is the target area. The target area is that area contained within the following boundary (boundaries): Sterling, Irion, Tom Green, Crockett and Schleicher,
6. The methods and materials to be used in conducting this operation are summarized herein. A meteorologist licensed by the TDLR to conduct weather-modification operations will select suitable clouds for seeding using a weather-radar system, as well as standard analytical and weather-forecasting procedures, to guide aircraft to release cloud-condensation nuclei either at cloud base or at cloud top to promote the growth and development of the precipitation process within the clouds and/or suppress the formation of hail within the clouds. The aircraft will be equipped with flare racks or generators to dispense appropriate materials, either glaciogenic or hygroscopic or a combination of the two, into those clouds deemed suitable for seeding.
7. Persons interested in knowing more about the technical aspects of the proposed weather-modification operation should contact Chris Hooyboer, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), P. O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711, (512) 659-5037; weather.modification@tdlr.texas.gov.
8. A public meeting on this application may be called by mailing letters, or petitions, that specifically request a meeting to the Executive Director, TDLR, P. O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711. The letter or petition must contain (1) the signature, full name, phone number, and mailing address, including physical address and name of county, of each person requesting the meeting; (2) a statement that each person is at least 18 years of age and that he(she) resides or owns property in either the operational or target areas, and
(3) a description of each person's interest and how that interest would be adversely impacted by the proposed seeding operation. Requests for a meeting must be mailed and postmarked to the TDLR within 30 days after the date of first publication of the Notice of Intention, which is required by State rules to be published in newspapers of general circulation in the affected counties once a week for three consecutive weeks. If at least 25 eligible persons make appropriate written requests for a meeting, the TDLR will schedule a public meeting within the area where the operation is to be conducted. Public notice stating the time, place, subject, and legal authority of the public meeting shall be provided at least 20 days prior to the meeting. Since the application includes hail suppression as an objective, persons living in the affected area and eligible may petition for, and cause, an election, or elections, to be held; the results of such election(s), as certified and submitted by the respective county commissioners court, will be evaluated before the Department issues any permit.
9. Individual members of the public who wish to inquire about the information contained in this notice, or to inquire about other agency licensing and permitting procedures, may call the TDLR at (800) 803-9202 or access the following website: www.tdlr.texas.gov.