field closely follow many of the suggestions of the Committee. 

 The public policy positions, especially as they relate to the inter- 

 national aspects of weather modification and our posture in this 

 field, are being studied by the Administration. The Committee's 

 views on these matters will be considered in the course of these 

 studies. 



The need for Federal legislation to define the rights and responsi- 

 bilities of citizens, States, and the Federal Government; to establish 

 regulatory mechanisms and liability provisions; and to protect the 

 public is strongly supported by NACOA. Along these lines this 

 Administration recommended legislation that has been enacted 

 requiring the reporting of all weather modification activity to the 

 Secretary of Commerce. I welcome the views of the Committee 

 concerning the need for further legislation. 



The analysis of national needs for research and technology in 

 weather modification is a balanced and comprehensive treatment. 

 The findings and recommendations offer a sound basis for further 

 development of the national effort. 



The review of the technical obstacles to progress in this field 

 provides a framework for organizing our scientific effort, directed 

 at understanding critical physical processes, and for our techno- 

 logical development effort in instrumentation and facilities. The 

 call of the Committee for an expanded field effort in the Great 

 Plains region of the United States is welcomed, and initial plans 

 for such an effort are being prepared. 



Some concern has been expressed by NACOA about the frag- 

 mentation of effort among the many agencies of the Federal Gov- 

 ernment, and NACOA recommends that a single Federal Agency 

 take the lead in the development of the technology of weather 

 modification. I agree with this recommendation for establishment 

 of a central focus within the United States Government for carrying 

 out research and development in all phases of weather modification. 

 However, I believe that weather modification technology should 

 remain available for use by all agencies of the Federal Govern- 

 ment in the discharge of their mission responsibilities. It would 

 also be unwise to divorce the necessary supporting research that 

 would be required for the application of weather modification 

 techniques from the agency with responsibility for such application. 



The Committee has given special attention to the national effort 

 in hurricane modification. I agree that this effort represents one 



