Weather Modification and Precipitation Management Act

Weather Modification and Precipitation Management Act - Title I: Precipitation Management Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to carry out precipitation management projects throughout the United States designed to augment or otherwise benefit the usable water resources of the Nation. Provides that in order to carry out the provisions of this Act, the Secretary shall: (1) identify the situations in which precipitation management is advantageously applicable to meeting water needs of the Nation; (2) contract with institutions of higher education, Federal agencies, State or local governmental agencies or business concerns, skilled and experienced in weather modification, in order to conduct precipitation management activities; (3) contract or enter into other appropriate types of financial arrangements with Federal, State or local entities, benefiting from such projects for the payment of the direct costs thereof; (4) continue in close coordination with the research programs of other agencies concerned with this program; and (5) make recommendations to the Congress for additional legislation which may be required to pay the costs of such programs.

Authorizes the Secretary to consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, settle and pay any claim against the United States for bodily injury, death or damage to or loss of real property resulting from the modification of the weather pursuant to the provisions of this Act. States that in no event shall a payment in excess of $25,000 be made with respect to any one claim. Provides that any such program which may be expected to adversely affect another country shall be authorized only with concurrence of the Secretary of State.

States that each recipient of assistance under this Act shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe. Provides that the Secretary shall prepare and transmit to the Congress an annual report which summarizes results and provides information of future plans of the precipitation management program.

Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be required to carry out the purposes of this title.

Title II: Demonstration Projects - Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to engage in operational demonstration projects for the purpose of carrying out precipitation management programs in each of the following: (1) the Southern Plains-South-western States, including the States of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas; and (2) the Northern Plains States, including the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. States that each such project shall commence July 1, 1972 and shall continue through fiscal year 1977.

Authorizes to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the project for the Southern Plains-Southwestern States the sum of $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1973 and for each of the next following four fiscal years. Authorizes to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the project for the Northern Plains States the sum $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1973 and for each of the next following four years.