An Act to provide for the reporting of weather modification activities to the Federal Government.
PL 92-205 (H.R.6893), enacted 12/18/1971

85 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-205-DEC. 18, 1971 
735 
SEC. 742. In line with the expressed intention of the President of 
the United States, none of the funds appropriated by this Act shall be 
used to finance the introduction of American ground combat troops 
into Laos or Thailand. 
SEC. 743. None of the funds appropriated in Titles I through V I I 
of this Act shall be available for the purposes authorized by section 
610, Public Law 91-511, approved October 26, 1970. 
SEC. 744. None of the funds in this Act shall be available for the 
induction or enlistment of any individual into the military services 
under a mandatory quota based on mental categories. 
TITLE V I I I 
Laos or Thai-
land, introduction 
of combat troops, 
prohibition. 
84 Stat. 1224. 
ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE CONSTRUCTION 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY 
For an additional amount for "Military Construction, Army" for 
construction of the Safeguard 
anti-ballistic missile system as 
authorized by section 401(a) (1), Public Law 92-156, $98,500,000, to 
Ante. p. 426. 
remain available until expended. 
FAMILY HOUSING, DEFENSE 
For an additional amount for "Family Housing, Defense" for the 
Safeguard anti-ballistic missile system as authorized by section 401 
(a)(2). Public Law 92-156, $11,070,000, to remain available until 
expended: Provided^ That the limitation "Construction Army" is 
increased accordingly. 
SEC. 801. Funds appropriated in this title shall be subject to the 
authorizations and limitations of the Military Construction Appro-
priation Act, 1972 in the same manner as if such funds had been 
^nte, p. 394. 
included in that Act. 
This Act may be cited as the "Department of Defense Appropriation 
short title. 
Act, 1972.'* 
Approved December 18, 1971. 
Public Law 92-205 
AN ACT 
To provide for the reporting of weather moditicution nctivities 
to the Federal Government. 
December 18, 1971 
[H. R. 6893] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Re'presentatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That, as used in this 
Act— 
(1) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce. 
(2) The term "person" means any individual, corporation, company, 
association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, anj State 
or local government or any agency thereof, or any other organization, 
whether commercial or nonprofit, who is performing weather modifi-
cation activities, except where acting solely as an employee, agent, or 
independent contractor of the Federal Government. 
(3) The term "weather modification" means any activity performed 
with the intention of producing artificial changes in the composition, 
behavior, or dynamics of the atmosphere. 
Weather modifi-
cation reporting. 
736 
PUBLIC LAW 92-205-DEC. 18, 1971 
[85 STAT. 
Report require-
ment. 
Records, publi-
cation. 
Public infor-
mation. 
Confidential in-
formation. 
62 Stat. 791. 
Authority of 
Secretary. 
Noncompliance. 
Penalty. 
Appropriations. 
(-1) The term "LTnited States" includes the several States, the Dis-
trict of Cohimbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any terri-
tory or insular possession of the United States. 
SE(;. 2. Xo person may engage, or attempt to engage, in any weather 
modification activity in the United States unless he submits to the Sec-
retary such reports with respect thereto, in such form and containing 
such information, as the Secretary may by rule prescribe. The Secre-
tary may require that such reports be submitted to him before, dur-
ing, and after any such activity or attempt. 
SEC. 8. (a) The Secretary shall maintain a record of weather modifi-
cation activities, including attempts, which take place in the United 
States and shall publish summaries thereof from time to time as he 
determines. 
(b) All reports, documents, and other information received by the 
Secretary under the provisions of this Act shall be made available 
to the public to the fullest practicable extent. 
(c) In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary 
shall not disclose any information referred to in section 1905 of title 18, 
LTnited States Code, and is otherwise unavailable to the public, except 
that such information shall be disclosed— 
(1) to other Federal Government departments, agencies, and 
officials for official use upon request; 
(2) in any judicial proceeding under a court order formulated 
to preserve the confidentiality of such information 
without 
impairing the proceeding; and 
(8) to the public if necessary to protect their health and safety. 
SEC. 4. (a) The Secretary may obtain from any person whose activ-
ities relate to weather modification by rule, subpena, or otherwise such 
information in the form of testimony, books, records, or other writ-
ings, may require the keeping and furnishing of such reports and rec-
ords, and may make such inspection of the books, records, and other 
writings and premises and property of any person as may be deemed 
necessary or appropriate by him to carry out the provisions of this 
Act, but this authority shall not be exercised to obtain any informa-
tion with respect to which adequate and authoritative data are avail-
able from any Federal agency. 
(b) In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena served 
upon any person pursuant to this section, the district court of the 
United States for any district in which such person is found or resides 
or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney General, shall 
have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and 
give testimony or to appear and produce documents, or both; and 
any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such 
court as a contempt thereof. 
SEC. 5. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates section 2 
of this Act, or any rule issued thereunder, shall upon conviction thereof 
be fined not more than $10,000. 
SEC. 6. There are authorized to be appropriated $150,000 for the 
fiscal year ending June 30,1972, and $200,000 each for the fiscal years 
ending June 30,1973, and June 30,1974, to carry out the provisions of 
this Act. 
Approved December 18, 1971.