The "Wyoming Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act" aims to prohibit the release of atmospheric contaminants in Wyoming's airspace, addressing concerns over atmospheric modification experiments that may pose risks to public health and the environment. The act establishes definitions for terms such as "atmospheric contaminant," "geoengineering," and "weather modification," and empowers the director of the Department of Environmental Quality to issue cease and desist orders for violations. It also includes provisions to protect whistleblowers who report violations and outlines criminal penalties for offenders, with first offenses classified as felonies punishable by significant fines and imprisonment.

Additionally, the bill repeals previous provisions related to weather modification, specifically W.S. 9-1-905 through 9-1-909, which included legislative declarations and permit requirements for weather modification activities. The new act emphasizes the state's authority to regulate air quality and prohibits various forms of atmospheric engineering while allowing for certain exemptions, such as commercial aviation and agricultural practices. The Department of Environmental Quality is tasked with creating necessary rules for the act's implementation, which takes effect immediately upon completion of legislative processes.

Statutes affected:
26LSO-0211 v0.5: 9-1-905, 9-1-909