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May 2022 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

View Wisconsin Natural Resources Board agendas, meeting calendar, webcasts, biographies and public participation info online.

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your request to attend the tours, testify and/or receive written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

The Natural Resources Board will meet in-person. Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted for this meeting (no in-person appearances). Members of the public can submit their request to testify remotely or their written comments by the posted deadline date for Board consideration.

The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/z-9muGPxZAk UPDATED LINK

After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/About/NRB/NRB-Webcasts

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

A G E N D A

For meeting at:
Room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2)
101 South Webster Street
Madison, Wisconsin

Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will have an informal dinner meeting with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress District Leadership Council at approximately 5:30 p.m. at Great Dane Pub, 123 E. Doty Street, Madison, WI. Agenda: 1) meet and greet; 2) growth of the Youth Conservation Congress, and 3) participation at spring hearings post pandemic. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Public Meeting Room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 as listed on the Agenda.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at approximately noon on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board may have lunch in Room G27. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that matters concerning natural resource issues or the Department’s program responsibilities or operations specified in the Wisconsin Statutes, which arise after publication of this agenda may be added to the agenda and publicly noticed no less than two hours before the scheduled board meeting, if the Board Chair determines that the matter is urgent.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

  1. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
    1. Calling the roll
    2. Approval of agenda for May 25, 2022
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from April 13, 2022 meeting
    2. The Friends of Blue Mound State Park donated $17,900.00 to install a 7.2 kW DC Solar Array to be built on the shop roof at Blue Mound State Park in Iowa County, WI.
      (Preston D. Cole, DNR Secretary)
    3. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin made two donations: 1) $16,228 to support Rush Creek State Natural Area; and 2) $17,600 to support Spur Lake SNA
      (Preston D. Cole, DNR Secretary)
    4. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WA-13-21, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 500, 502, 542, and 544 related to statewide materials recycling and effective recycling programs
      (Kate Strom Hiorns, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Chief)
    5. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order DG-02-22, for proposed rules creating chapter NR 854 related to statewide water supply service area planning for municipalities serving populations greater than 10,000 people
      (Adam Freihoefer, Water Use Section Chief)
    6. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order DG-03-22, for proposed rules creating chapter NR 851 for the management of diversions (transfers of water from the Great Lakes basin to outside of the Great Lakes basin) and intrabasin transfers including the application and review process and other related criteria
      (Adam Freihoefer, Water Use Section Chief)
    7. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will donate $67,500 to be used to support management of 11 State Natural Areas in the southwest and driftless regions of Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Richland and Sauk Counties: Arena Pines and Sand Barrens, Blue River Bluffs, Dewey Heights Prairie, Ferry Bluff, Gotham Jack Pine Prairie, Limery Ridge Savanna, Pecatonica River Woods, Ridgeway Pine Relict, Rush Creek, Snow Bottom and South Bluff.
      (Preston D. Cole, DNR Secretary)
  3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
  4. ACTION ITEMS
    ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Presentation of the 2021 Shikar Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award INFORMATION ITEM - WRITTEN COMMENTS ONLY
      (Casey Krueger, Chief Conservation Warden)
    2. SCOPE STATEMENTS - None
    3. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order WM-09-21 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 8, 10, 11, 12,17, 18, 19, and 27 related to the 2021 Bureau of Wildlife Management housekeeping rule
      (Scott Karel, Regulation Policy Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
    4. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order DG-04-22 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 140 related to setting numerical standards to minimize the concentration of polluting substances in groundwater (Cycle 10 Bacteria)
      (Bruce Rheineck, Groundwater Section Chief)
    5. MISCELLANEOUS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    6. Elk herd update and approval of the 2022 elk season quotas.
      (Josh Spiegel, Wildlife Biologist)
    7. 1. Land Donation – Devil’s Lake State Park – Sauk County
      2. Land Donation – Glacial Habitat Restoration Area – Winnebago County

      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
  5. OPEN FORUM (Testimony that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda or not in litigation) – at approximately 10:15 a.m. or following morning break. Please refer to pages 4 and 5 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.)
    1. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
      1. Congress Matters: 2022 advisory question summary and convention report
        (To be determined, WCC Chair)
      2. Results of input on the Bureau of Wildlife Management's 2022 spring fish & wildlife meeting agenda of advisory questions.
        (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist)
      3. Summary of public input on Fisheries Management’s advisory questions from the 2022 Spring Fish and Wildlife Hearings
        (Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Policy Specialist)
    2. DEPARTMENTS SECRETARY'S MATTERS
      1. Retirement Recognition - Action
        1. Julie A. Amakobe, Land and Facilities Management, 36 years
        2. John J. Arthur, Parks and Recreation, 32 years
        3. Kathleen A. Gruentzel, Parks and Recreation, 33 years
        4. Laurie J. Ross, Office of the Secretary, WI Natural Resources Board, 21 years
        5. Wendy L. Weihemuller, Remediation and Redevelopment, 36 years
      2. Department Secretary's Matters - Informational
        1. Acts of the Department Secretary - Real Estate Transactions
        2. Department Secretary's Matters
          1. Sandra Dee Naas report
        3. Planning Status Update - None
    3. BOARD MEMBERS' MATTERS

      The public is welcome to attend a Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting. The NRB also provides opportunities for citizens to testify and to submit written comment about issues that come before the NRB. See complete information on public participation at Board meetings here.

      Board Meetings are webcast live. To watch, go to http://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/agenda.html and click Webcasts in the Related Links column on the right. Then click on this month’s meeting. After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand.

      The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube here: https://youtu.be/z-9muGPxZAk

      After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/About/NRB/NRB-Webcasts

      The following meeting resources also are available: Agenda Item Packets (also known as green sheet packages are linked to the corresponding item on the website/html meeting agenda here -- click on the blue “View agendas” button then scroll down.), supporting documents, and public comment.

      Live transcription of the webcast is auto-generated and not a legal record of the Board Meeting. The approved Brief of Action and meeting recording constitute the official Board’s minutes.

      Public Appearance Protocol: Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted for this meeting (no in-person appearances). Members of the public can submit their request to testify remotely or their written comments by the posted deadline date for Board consideration. You must be pre-registered to testify. Please include your name, daytime phone number, email address, city of residence, agenda item you request to testify on (include topic for item 5-Open Forum), and name of organization you will represent (if none, state “self”). Confirmed speakers will receive meeting logistics via email. Those confirmed to testify on a specific agenda item will testify on that item prior to vote.

      Please review: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/NRB/public.html.

      NOTE: The Board welcomes citizen input on matters of natural resources management and Department programs and policies. Comments concerning any individual’s personal information or personal business are not appropriate and will not be allowed.

      The time that item 5. – Open Forum may be before the Board is approximately 10:15 a.m. or immediately following morning break. If you arrive late, you may lose your opportunity to testify. Each speaker will have three minutes to give their testimony; however, the Board Chair has final discretion on time limit..

      The following is from the Board's meeting guidelines: Only one speaker per organization. Testimony that threatens, intimidates, or includes disparaging comments about Board Members, department staff, and other members of the public will not be allowed. Those that do so October be removed from the meeting or remote location. Written comment is always welcome.

      Please contact Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Acting NRB Liaison, at 608-219-9134 or by email at DNRNRBLiaison@wisconsin.gov with NRB related questions, to request information, to submit written comments, and to register to testify at a meeting.

      Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022

      The DNR strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a fragrance-free environment. Our chemically sensitive staff and visitors thank you for refraining from using scented products.

      The NRB and Department of Natural Resources are committed to serving people with disabilities. Please contact the NRB Liaison to request NRB information in an alternative format.