Details

Public Notice: Invitation to Attend Public Hearing on Precipitation Enhancement Efforts

The Oregon Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding the Rainmaker Technology Corporation’s license application for proposed precipitation enhancement efforts in Umatilla County.

The name and post-office address of the applicant.

Rainmaker Technology Corporation Mailing Address: 115 Eucalyptus Dr, El Segundo, CA 90245

The nature and object of the weather modification operation which applicant proposes to conduct, including a general description of such operation.

The purpose of Rainmaker’s proposed operation is to increase wintertime precipitation and snowpack in Umatilla County, Oregon, enhancing natural rainfall and snowfall in targeted areas to support sustainable water management. By doing so, Rainmaker aims to improve water availability for agriculture, recharge local aquifers, and contribute to long-term water resilience for farms and communities. Increasing precipitation helps replenish vital water sources like rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater, benefiting both agriculture and the environment. Enhancing snowpack in nearby mountains is particularly crucial for ensuring steady water supply during warmer months, supporting irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower.

Rainmaker will operate small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) under a public Certificate of Authorization (COA) facilitated by the Pendleton UAS Range and established by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. These operations will adhere to strict safety standards and focus on a small, localized area at the base of the Blue Mountains near Pilot Rock. Permission has been granted by the landowner, providing an ideal environment for fine-tuning operations with various UAS platforms.

The method and type of equipment and the type and composition of the materials that the applicant proposes to use.

The mission will begin with a forecast to determine the optimal day for precipitation enhancement, based on weather conditions. Once identified, the drone will be launched from the Mission Operations base and will autonomously navigate to the target area. The drone will hover within a designated small area, reaching the optimal and regulated distance from the cloud base. At this point, approximately 50 grams of AgI will be released during each flight to enhance precipitation. After completing the seeding, the drone will autonomously return to base, where its payload will be reviewed to determine if any material remains. If necessary, a “Return to Service” protocol will be initiated to ensure the platform is prepared for subsequent missions.

Equipment:

–Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): Rainmaker employs high-performance, weather-resistant drones that can operate autonomously, ensuring rapid, precise, and cost-effective precipitation enhancement operations. UAVs offer significant advantages over traditional manned aircraft by reducing costs, increasing safety, and allowing for operations in challenging weather conditions.

– Precipitation Enhancement Material: Rainmaker’s primary precipitation enhancement material is silver iodide (AgI), which is highly effective in promoting ice nucleation in cold clouds. However, Rainmaker is also leading research into more sustainable alternatives, such as soil dust and biological ice-nucleating proteins. These alternatives aim to reduce environmental impacts and improve efficacy, particularly in warmer cloud conditions where AgI is less effective.

– Radar and Lidar Systems: Rainmaker’s radar and lidar systems continuously monitor cloud conditions, identifying the most suitable clouds for precipitation enhancement and validating the outcomes of each event. These systems track precipitation patterns in real-time, ensuring that the operations yield measurable increases in rainfall or snowfall.

The area in which and the approximate time during which the operation will be conducted.

Rainmaker’s proposed operations aim to increase precipitation at the base of the Blue Mountains near Pilot Rock over private property with explicit approval from the owners. The effort will utilize unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and silver iodide to enhance wintertime rain and snowfall. These operations will take place only while there are optimal and existing cloud coverage and conditions. The area of operation is private land, which is around 400 acres. The operations will take place at various times during optimal conditions, which we anticipate to occur a few times per week from November 2024 through April of 2025.

The area which will be affected by the operation as near as the same may be determined in advance.

Our operations are highly localized, with the immediate effects focused solely on a 400-acre ranch near Pilot Rock. The precipitation enhancement efforts are specifically targeted within this area, so any changes in weather patterns or moisture levels will be concentrated there. This allows us to closely monitor and measure the direct impact of our work on a small, controlled scale.

The time and place of the public hearing.

Location: Pendleton Airport – 2016 Airport Rd Pendleton, OR 97801

Doolittle Raider Conference Room (adjacent to Terminal Lobby)

Time: October 30th, 2024 from 2:00PM – 3:00PM

For those unable to attend in person, a remote participation option will be available via

https://oda.fyi/wmpendleton.

For more information regarding the public hearing, application, or to provide written comment email eric.nusbaum@oda.oregon.gov. Written comment will be accepted until October 30, 2024 at 5pm.

For those who are interested in attending, Rainmaker will be hosting a brief presentation before and after the hours of the hearing to cover our operations. More information about Rainmaker can be found at https://makerain.com.

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