(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the board may grant a licensee permission to undertake an emergency nucleation project, without prior compliance by the licensee with the provisions of section 8(a),¹ if the same appears to the department to be necessary or desirable in aid of extinguishment of fires.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, upon request of the county commissioners of a county or of the governing body of a city, borough, town or township, and upon the submission of such supporting evidence as the board may require, the board may grant a licensee permission to undertake a nucleation project for the purpose of alleviating a drought emergency, without prior compliance by the licensee with the provisions of section 8(a) requiring publication of notice of intention, if such project appears to the department to be necessary or desirable.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as to relieve the licensee in the cases set forth in subsection (a) or (b) of this section from compliance with the provisions of section 8 requiring publication of notice of intention and filing of proof of such publication, as soon after the granting of permission by the board as is practicable. In lieu thereof the licensee may furnish equivalent transmission of notice of intention by radio or television, and proof thereof, as soon after the granting of permission by the board as is practicable.