Weather Modification Act

This archived revised Act states the law as of December 31, 1996 and includes provisions enacted and in force by that date. For the most current information, click here. The Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1996 were brought into force on April 21, 1997 (B.C. Reg. 92/97).

WEATHER MODIFICATION ACT

[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 486

Contents

Section
	1	Definitions
	2	Weather modification activity permit
	3	Power to make regulations
	4	Offences

Section 001 — Definitions

1 In this Act:

"minister" includes any person designated in writing by the minister;

"weather modification activity" means any activity designed or intended to produce, by physical or chemical means, changes in the composition or dynamics of the atmosphere for the purpose of

(a) increasing, decreasing or redistributing precipitation,

(b) decreasing or suppressing hail or lightning, or

Section 002 — Weather modification activity permit

2 (1) A person must not commence or carry on a weather modification activity in British Columbia without first obtaining a permit from the minister.

(2) An application for a permit under subsection (1) must be made to the minister in the form and containing the information prescribed by the regulations.

(3) If an application for a permit is made under subsection (1), the minister may

(a) refuse to grant the permit, or

(b) grant the permit in whole or part on the terms and conditions prescribed by the regulations or specified by the minister.

(4) The minister may require an applicant for a permit under subsection (1) to give security in an amount set by the minister and in the form prescribed by the regulations.

Section 003 — Power to make regulations

3 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations referred to in section 41 of the Interpretation Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations setting fees and other payments.

Section 004 — Offences

4 (1) A person who contravenes this Act or the regulations commits an offence.

(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on conviction

(a) to a fine of not more than $10 000, to imprisonment for a term not longer than 6 months, or to both the fine and imprisonment, and

(b) if the offence is of a continuing nature, to a fine not more than $1 000 for each day the offence is continued.