December 9, 2005
The Honorable Congresswoman Patty Berg
State Capitol
Attn: Mary Morgan
Room 4146
Sacramento, California 94249-00001
(916) 319-2001
RE: Agriculture Alert U.S. Senate Bill 517 & U.S. House Bill 2995
Experimental Weather Modification Bill
Dear Congresswoman Berg:
I am writing to you regarding U.S. Senate Bill 517, a bill that could jeopardize agriculture and water supplies in California. It is important that this experimental weather modification bill be stopped in its present form.
I am encouraging all elected officials to oppose the adoption of U.S. Senate Bill Senate Bill 517 and U.S. House Bill 2995, a bill that would allow experimental weather modification by artificial methods and implement a national weather modification policy. This bill is scheduled to take effect in 2005, and will cost the taxpayers $10 Million dollars each year.
The appointed Board of Directors established by this bill does not include any agricultural, water, EPA, or public representatives, and has no provisions for Congressional, State, County, or public oversight of their actions or expenditures. There should be local hearings with regard to all experimental weather modification programs.
Weather Modification may adversely impact agricultural crops and water supplies. If the weather is changed in one state, region or county it may have severe consequences in another region, state or county. I am strongly encouraging you to oppose this costly bill, due to a lack of public hearings, oversight and representation of vital water, fish habitats, watersheds, and agricultural interests of all states.
Artificial weather modification can impact all of us by reducing water supplies, changing agricultural crop production cycles, and water availability. We also would have no control over weather modification schemes used by private interests, other states or counties that may adversely impact us on a local and state level.
If a weather modification program is introduced in one county or state it could adversely effect another county with a costly lawsuit the outcome. Weather Modification experimentation and control should only be undertaken when we, the people, are advised in advance of any experimentation, allowed to hold public hearings, advised of program dates and the adverse impacts of these programs at those public hearings.
This bill has already been introduced on the floor of both bodies (May & June 2005), and may be brought up for a vote in the U.S. Senate or House prior to the end of 2005, or early in 2006. It recently was approved and passed out of the Commerce Committee. We need all of our elected representatives to oppose this bill. It is up to us to protect ourselves and let our representatives know how we feel about this issue. A copy of this bill is attached for your information along with a petition to our elected representatives.
I have also enclosed information on two of our atmospheric testing programs and have grave concerns about H.A.A.R.P., experiments that are taking place in Alaska. Alaska Senator Stevens recently received $50 million (in a pork bill) to continue an atmospheric heating program. Climate change is taking place across this land and in Alaska. This type of experimental testing, without knowing how it may impact our climate in California, should be given full public scrutiny. I have enclosed a 2004 Science Channel DVD program on Weather Modification which also includes information about H.A.A.R.P. I hope that you will consider the consequences of these types of programs before approving similar bills.
There is a book titled, The Dying of the Trees, by Charles Little (1995),
which discusses unusual tree decline and deaths across the United States.
This tree health decline is also found here Mendocino County. I am concerned
that we have been doing experimental atmospheric testing and this may
be impacting our trees and climate. Aluminum, if it gets into trees
roots will prevent needed moisture and nutrients from nourishing the
tree making it look like it is dying of drought, and barium are now
unusually spiking in EPA drinking water tests throughout California.
Could this be from some of our atmospheric testing?
NASA notes that persistent jet contrails are producing man-made cirrus clouds which could be reducing corn crop production in California and other states. A recent study produced by a professor at the University of Illinois noted that cloud cover reduces corn crop production. In areas, even if the temperature is lower, direct sunlight increases crop production. Could a combination of air pollution and man-made cirrus cloud cover be impacting crop production and escalating tree deaths in California?
We must all work together on these issues, which impact all of us. I hope that you will take an active role to oppose this experimental weather modification bill. Experimenting on our weather could have serious impacts on our water supplies and agricultural crops.
Respectfully,
Rosalind Peterson, former Certified USDA Farm Service Agency
Agricultural Crop Loss Adjustor & County Agricultural Technologist
Post Office Box 499
Redwood Valley, California 95470
(707) 485-7520
E-Mail: info@californiaskywatch.com