Prohibiting the intentional emission of air contaminants into the atmosphere, and providing penalties

The bill provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a project or program located on or in support of an airport open to public use that is not in compliance with the reporting requirements is ineligible to receive state funding until compliance is achieved. The bill requires the department, upon receipt of the required reports, to submit aggregated reports to the department of natural resources and the applicable state law enforcement agencies that support enforcement of weather engineering prohibitions. The bill also requires the department to incorporate the reporting guidelines into grant agreements for airports open to public use that receive state funding and authorizes the department to adopt rules implementing the reporting requirements. The bill provides that the emission, injection, release, or dispersion of a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of the state for the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, climate, or the intensity of sunlight, or any other purpose not presently regulated by state or federal law, is prohibited. The bill provides that any person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a class “D” felony and, for a corporation that violates the prohibition, an additional civil penalty up to $100,000 is imposed on the corporation’s officers, directors, or employees. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. Each day a violation occurs constitutes a separate offense.