Creating Atmospheric Intervention Oversight and Public Safety Act

SB 632, the "Atmospheric Intervention Oversight and Public Safety Act," prohibits unauthorized weather-altering activities within West Virginia, including cloud seeding, stratospheric aerosol injection, and electromagnetic or thermal energy-based modifications. It directly affects any individual, organization, or entity conducting such activities in or above the state, requiring prior state authorization from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for permitted interventions. The bill establishes DEP as the lead agency to enforce prohibitions, investigate violations through cooperative efforts with law enforcement, and impose penalties for unauthorized actions. It defines prohibited activities broadly and mandates transparency, while explicitly stating DEP shall not issue permits for atmospheric modification (per §22-37-3(a)).