Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday the launch of new agency websites to address the public’s questions about weather modifications, particularly geoengineering and contrails.
The action is a response to theories that have bubbled up on social media and gained currency among some Republicans that weather modifications may be connected to the severe flash flood that struck central Texas last week.
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The flood began in the early morning hours on Friday and resulted in extreme destruction along the Guadalupe River. Nearly 120 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the disaster. Kerr County was particularly affected, with at least 150 individuals reported missing.
In response, Zeldin emphasized that those questioning geoengineering and contrails deserve to receive answers from the government. The EPA then announced two websites to address public concerns regarding both practices.
“Americans have questions about geoengineering and contrails,” Zeldin said on X. “They expect honesty and transparency from their government when seeking answers. For years, people who asked questions in good faith were dismissed, even vilified by the media and their own government. This ends today.”
Geoengineering is the manipulation of the Earth’s natural system to counteract the effects of climate change. Some of the approaches to geoengineering include removing carbon dioxide and managing solar radiation.
Contrails are trails of condensation that are formed behind an aircraft. The EPA website said that some people use the term “chemtrails” to suggest inaccurately that contrails that form from normal flight are in fact caused by the intentional release of dangerous chemicals or biological agents for “nefarious purposes,” including weather modification.
The EPA noted that sometimes chemicals are sprayed from aircraft for legitimate purposes, such as firefighting or cloud seeding, a decades-old technique that increases rainfall in existing clouds. It said, though, that such releases are undertaken by small, low-flying aircraft, not from high-altitude jets, and that it monitors air traffic for dangerous activities. Nonetheless, the EPA site on contrails says that “it is reasonable” to ask questions about unusual contrails or planes releasing material, and said the public should contact the agency in those circumstances.
The EPA’s announcement comes as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced legislation over the weekend to ban weather modification, citing claims that it contributed to the Texas floods.
The proposed legislation is similar to Florida’s Senate Bill 56, Greene said, which makes it illegal for individuals to practice weather modification or geoengineering, and imposes a $100,000 fine and a five-year prison sentence for violators.
Greene has remained steadfast in claiming that weather modifications cause extreme weather events. Last October, Greene posted on X that the government can control the weather during Hurricane Helene.
“Yes they can control the weather,” Greene wrote. “It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”
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Former President Joe Biden slammed Greene’s claims last year.
“Now the claims are getting even more bizarre,” Biden said. “Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather. We’re controlling the weather. It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s got to stop.”