Public Hearings and Meetings

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call the contact person listed for the meeting or hearing with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

• Hearings
• Meetings

Hearings

• September 8 - A contested case hearing in the matter of the permit application of Cambrian Development, LLC for a permit to grade more than 10,000 square feet on the bank of the Wisconsin River to construct a boat ramp and for the Water Quality Certification of the Federal Clean Water Act to place fill in .094 acres of wetland along the Wisconsin River, City of Wisconsin Dells, Columbia County, will commence at 9:30 a.m. in Room 26 at Baraboo Civic Center, 124 Second St., Baraboo. It will continue, if necessary, on Sept. 9 through 12, at the same location. The public comment portion of the hearing will be held on September 9, 2008, commencing at 7 p.m. at the Baraboo Civic Center. All witnesses who have filed testimony shall be present and made available for cross-examination unless all parties stipulate that such a witness need not be present. Rebuttal witnesses will be allowed if appropriate. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (60) 266-7709.
• September 10 - An informational hearing on a petition from the Norway Dover Drainage District (NDDD) located in Racine County for a change in the Operation Permit of the Wind Lake Dam will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Norway Town Hall, 6419 Heg Park Road in Wind Lake. The proposal is to re-establish a winter level of 93.15 PSC from October 15 to April 1, and to keep the existing summer level of 95.15 PSC the remainder of the year. Additionally, the petition requests that the Operational order allow for a greater range of operation to limit the sudden opening and closing of the dam which the NDDD contends causes flooding of their agricultural fields. This action would result in lower water levels during the winter, allowing for more storage during the spring thaw. The winter drawdown was eliminated in 2000 and 2002 after environmental assessments and hearings. However, [pursuant to ATCP 48.40(1)] the NDDD should have been contacted prior to this change in the order because Wind Lake drains directly into a designated drainage district drain. There is no indication that the NDDD was contacted, participated or commented on the previous proposals. The proposed department action is not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects. The department has made a preliminary determination that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required for this action. Copies of the environmental assessment that resulted in the DNR's preliminary determination can be obtained from Heidi Hopkins, Water Management Specialist, (262) 884-2355 or at heidi.hopkins@wisconsin.gov. Public comments, either written or oral, on the environmental assessment are welcome and must be submitted by Friday, September 22, 2008 to Heidi Hopkins, Sturtevant Service Center, 9531 Rayne Rd., Suite IV, Sturtevant, WI 53177. For more information contact Heidi Hopkins, Water Management Specialist, (262) 884-2355.
• September 12 – A public hearing to receive comments on the air pollution control construction and operation permit applications of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation for the proposed modification of a waferboard manufacturing facility in Tomahawk, Lincoln County will be held at 10 a.m. in the Council Room at the Tomahawk City Hall, 23 North Second Street, Tomahawk. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, FID 735057950, submitted to the Department of Natural Resources a permit application, including plans and specifications for the modification and operation of an existing waferboard manufacturing facility located at 9300 County Road S, Tomahawk, Lincoln County, Wisconsin. (Air Pollution Construction and Operation Permit Nos. 08-MDW-042 and 735057950-P12.) Application Review. DNR has made a preliminary determination that the application meets state and federal air pollution control requirements and that the permit should be approved. The permit application, the DNR’s analysis and draft permit prepared by the DNR may be reviewed at the DNR Bureau of Air Management Headquarters, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster Street, Madison; at the DNR Rhinelander Service Center, 107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, and at the Tomahawk Public Library, 300 West Lincoln Avenue, Tomahawk, or contact Michael Wagner at 715-634-9658 extension 3526 or by e-mail at Michael.Wagner@wisconsin .gov. Written comments on the application or DNR’s review should be submitted by September 11, 2008 to: Wisconsin DNR, Northern Region Air Management Program, 10220 State Highway 27 South, Hayward, Wisconsin 54843, Attn: Michael Wagner. For information contact Michael Wagner at 715-634-9658.
• September 15 - Pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 31.02, 31.06, 31.19 and 31.185 and ch NR 333, the State of Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals will conduct a prehearing conference in the matter of an application by Margaret Zerwekh to abandon and remove the Nemahbin Roller Mill Dam and an order for drawdown of the impoundment located on the Bark River in the City of Delafield, Waukesha County at 1:30 p.m. at the Waukesha State Office Building, Room 151, 141 N.W. Barstow Street, Waukesha. Any person, organization or governmental unit wishing to become a party to this proceeding must appear at the conference in person or by an authorized representative. The purpose of the prehearing conference will be to identify parties to the proceeding, to simplify the issues which may be contested at the hearing, establish a discovery schedule and set a date for hearing. No testimony will be heard at the prehearing conference, however, a date may be set for the hearing on the merits at the conference. When the hearing is held it will be a Class 1 contested case pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.01(3)(a). For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
• September 15 - Pursuant to §§ 285.13(1) and 285.61(7), Wis. Stats., a public hear to receive comments on proposed revisions for an air permit application for the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation - Pulliam Plant, Bylsby Ave, Green Bay, Brown County. The public hearing will be held at 11 a.m. at the Department of Natural Resources Northeast Region Headquarters, 2984 Shawano Ave., Green Bay. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation submitted to the Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Construction Permit No. 07-SDD-311 and Operation Permit No.405031990-P12, including plans and specifications for modification and operation of four power boilers to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at the plant. The DNR has made a preliminary determination that the application meets state and federal air pollution control requirements and that the permit should be approved. The permit application, the DNR’s analysis and draft permit prepared by the DNR can be reviewed at the DNR Bureau of Air Management Headquarters, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703; at the DNR Northeast region Air management Program Office, 2984 Shawano Avenue, Green Bay, and at the Brown County Library, 515 Pine St., Green Bay, or by contact Steven Dunn at 608-267-0566 or by e-mail at Steven.Dunn@wisconsin.gov. The DNR has prepared an Environmental Assessment of the proposal. This preliminary de¬termination does not constitute approval from the Air Management Program or any other DNR sections which may also require a review of the project. Public comment on the application, DNR’s review of the application, or on the Environmental Assessment should be submitted by Sept. 15, 2008 to: Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. Attn.: Steven Dunn. For more information contact Steven Dunn at 608-267-0566.
• October 1 - A public hearing in the matter of an application by the City of Franklin for water quality certification of the Federal Clean Water Act to fill 0.053 acres of wetland to connect south Hillendale Drive and West Marquette Avenue within the road right-of-way located in the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, will be held at 10 a.m. in Room 40 at the Milwaukee State Office Building, 819 North Sixth St., Milwaukee. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
• October 6 – A contested case hearing in the matter of the Department of Natural Resources’ decision not to reopen its historic BRRTS Number 03-41-095653, relating to KJG Investment, Inc., on property located at 9922 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee will be held at 10:00 a.m. in Room 40 at the Milwaukee State Office Building, 819 North Sixth Street, Milwaukee. It will continue, if necessary, on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. at the same location. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
• October 17 - Pursuant to §§ 29.014, 227.11 and 227.14, Stats., interpreting §§ 29.014, 29.041 and 29.885, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on Natural Resources Board Emergency Order No. WM-18-08(E) pertaining to the 2008 migratory game bird season at 2 p.m. in Room 408, Natural Resources State Office Building, 101 South Webster St., Madison (Entrance at the Webster Street doors only). This emergency order took effect on August 30, 2008. This rule order establishes the season length and bag limits for the 2008 Wisconsin migratory game bird seasons. For ducks, the state is divided into two zones each with 60-day seasons. The season begins at 9 a.m. September 27 and continues for 60 consecutive days in the north, closing on November 25. In the South, the season begins at 9 a.m. on October 4 and continues through October 12, followed by a 5-day split, and then reopens on October 18 and continues through December 7. The special season for hunters age 12 through 15 will occur on September 20 and 21. The daily bag limit is 6 ducks including no more than: 4 mallards, of which only one may be a hen, one black duck, one pintail, 3 wood ducks and 2 redheads. The daily bag limit may include 1 scaup except that from Oct. 18 to Nov. 6 in the north zone and Nov. 1 to Nov. 20 in the south zone the daily bag may include 2 scaup. The USFWS has reduced the daily bag limit on scaup from 2 for the entire season to 1 for a portion of the season in response to a declining population trend from the 1970’s until about 2001. Scaup are, however, still the third most abundant duck in continental surveys at 3.7 million. The Mississippi Flyway was given a scaup season of 60 days with 40 days at a 1 bird daily bag and 20 days at a 2 bird daily bag. Wisconsin had the option to pick where the 20 days with a 2 bird bag fall during the season. This rule order does not allow the harvest of canvasback ducks which is a stipulation of the federal framework. For Canada geese, the state is apportioned into 3 goose hunting zones: Horicon, Collins and Exterior. Other special goose management subzones within the Exterior Zone include Brown County, Burnett County, Rock Prairie and the Mississippi River. Season lengths are: Collins Zone - 67 days (three hunting periods, September 16 – October 5, October 6 – 26, October 27 – November 21); Horicon Zone - 92 days (2 hunting periods, first period beginning September 16 and the second on November 3); Exterior Zone in the northern duck zone - 85 days (Sept. 20 – Dec. 13); Exterior Zone in the southern duck zone – 85 days (Sept. 20 – Oct. 12 and Oct. 18 – Dec. 18) and Mississippi River subzone - 85 days (Oct. 4 – Oct. 12 and Oct. 18 – Jan. 1). The Burnett County subzone is closed to Canada goose hunting. The statewide daily bag limit for Canada geese in all zones is 2 birds per day during the open seasons within the zones. This rule order adds ten days to the mourning dove season so that it extends to November 9 which is consistent with a new opportunity offered in the federal hunting season framework. Finally, this rule corrects an inconsistency between the section that establishes shooting hours and the section that establishes when the hunting season begins. Both should indicate a 9 a.m. start on the first day of the duck season but the section on shooting hours incorrectly describes a noon start. Written comments on the emergency rule may be submitted to Kent Van Horn, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than October 21, 2008. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. For more information or a copy of the emergency rule may contact Kent Van Horn at (608) 266 8841.
• October 20 - Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 281.15 and 281.36 and Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 103 and NR 299 a Class 1 contested case public hearing in the matter of an application by the Village of Howard for Water Quality Certification of the Federal Clean Water Act to fill .63 acres of wetland for the purpose of industrial development in wetlands located in the Village of Howard, Brown County, will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Room 152A at the Green Bay State Office Building, 200 North Jefferson St., Green Bay. The hearing will continue on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, if necessary, in Room 152B at Green Bay State Office Building. The Village of Howard, 1336 Cornell Road, Green Bay, Wisconsin, filed an application with the Department of Natural Resources for water quality certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, Wis. Stat. §§ 281.15 and 281.36 and Wis. Admin. Code §§ NR 103 and 299. The Village of Howard proposes to place fill affecting .63 acres of wetland and construct four railroad spurs through wetlands for the purpose of industrial development. The proposed project is located in the SW ¼ of Section 3, Township 24 North, Range 20 East, Village of Howard, Brown County. The Department of Natural Resources evaluated this application and determined that there was not reasonable assurance that the proposal would comply with standards pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code §§ NR 103.08(3) and NR 299.04. The Department of Natural Resources denied the application in a letter dated June 24, 2008. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at - (608) 266-7709.
• October 20 - Pursuant to §§ 29.604 and 227.11, Stats., interpreting § 29.064, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the repeal of s. NR 27.03(3)(b)2. and (3)(b)8., Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the trumpeter swan and osprey at 4 p.m. in Room G09, Natural Resources State Office Building, 101 South Webster St., Madison (Entrance at the Webster Street door only) The proposed rule will delete trumpeter swan from the Wisconsin endangered species list and the osprey from the Wisconsin threatened species list. The proposed rule changes are based solely on the biological recovery of these species in Wisconsin. The Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site (exit DNR). Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted until October 29, 2008 via U.S. mail to Sumner Matteson, Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. For more information or a copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate contact Sumner Matteson at (608) 266-1571.
• December 17 - A contested case hearing in the matter of the order for immediate drawdown of Oakwood Lake, an Impoundment of the Merrillan Mills Dam on Halls Creek, Jackson County, will commence at 10:30 a.m. in the County Board Room, Jackson County Courthouse, 307 Main Street, Black River Falls. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.

Meetings

• Wisconsin Conservation Congress public meeting notices
• September 8 - The Phosphorus Criteria Advisory Committee will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in room 328 NW in the State Capitol, Madison. The purpose of this meeting is to continue discussion of implementing point source permits based on the phosphorus criteria for streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and Great Lakes. For more information, please contact Jim Baumann (608) 266-9277.
• September 8 - The Green Tier Advisors will meet at 11:40 a.m. in Room G-09of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S Webster St., Madison. The meeting agenda includes: a Program participation status report: Green Tier Advantage 2009 status report; review the list of potential charters and sort into categories of most and least potential; discuss follow-through strategies for the ten identified as having the most potential for accomplishing environmental improvements & program expansion; proportionality recommendation; Green Tier reporting – discussion of template for presenting information submitted by Green Tier participants in their annual reports to the department; funding support for stakeholder participation in Tier 2 Contracts and Charters; and legislation discussion. For information contact Carla Wright, DNR Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance, at (608) 267-7407.
• September 9 - The Technical Advisory Committee for changes to rules governing setback distances between water supply wells and landfills will meet from noon to 3 p.m. in the Raptor Room at the DNR South Central Region Headquarters, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a preferred option for coordinating the sections of NR 812 and NR 504 that specify procedures for variances to the 1200-foot setback requirement in both code chapters. For more information, contact Brad Wolbert at 608-264-6286.
• September 10 - The stakeholder advisory group to consider changes to the Endangered Resources Review Program of the Wisconsin DNR will meet from 10 a.m. - noon in room G09, of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison. The advisory group consists of current and past customers and partners of the Endangered Resources Review Program as well as other organizations and entities that we believe may be interested in this process. The purpose of the meeting is to provide background on the Endangered Resources Review Program and the services that it currently provides, gather information from the group on how they currently interact with the program, and receive suggestions for how the program could better serve its external customers and partners. For more information, please call Sarah Carter at (608) 264-8968.
• September 11 - The Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit will hold its annual public informational meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Henry S. Ruess Ice Age Visitor Center, N 2875 Hwy 67, Campbellsport. The purpose of the meeting is to share information with the public regarding the ongoing use and management of the state forest. Department resource managers will discuss current and future projects relating to endangered resources, forestry, recreation and wildlife management occurring on the state forest. For more information contact Jerry Leiterman, Forest Superintendent at 262 626-2116.
• September 15 - The Mid-Kettle Moraine Partners Group will meet from 9 a.m. to noon at the Delafield City Hall, 500 Genesee St., Delafield. The Mid-Kettle Moraine is a group of individuals representing governments, private non-profit conservation agencies and others interested in the Mid-Kettle Moraine. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss activities related to the Partners Group education and outreach activities and to share information on member activities. For additional information, please contact Paulette Harder at 414-263-8525 or 262-255-0227.
• September 16 - The DNR Fire Department Advisory Council will meet at 12:30 p.m. at the Rodeway Inn and Suites, 1738 Comfort Drive, Tomahawk, regarding wild fire control issues affecting fire departments in Wisconsin. For information contact Chris Klahn at (608) 297-2214.
• September 16 - The Wisconsin Council on Forestry will meet on at 9:30 a.m. at the Forest Products Lab, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison. Woody Biomass Harvest Guidelines and the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts are among the items on the agenda. Please contact Mary Brown at 261-7599 for further information.
• September 16 - An informational meeting on a Department of Natural Resources proposal to designate portions of Lake Menomin, Dunn County as critical habitat will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Dunn County Government Center; 800 Wilson Ave.; Menomonie. Critical habitat is of vital importance to water quality, hunting, fishing, and natural beauty of Wisconsin’s lakes and streams. The Department has made a tentative determination that specific locations in Lake Menomin contain:
  • Fish and wildlife habitat, including specific sites necessary for breeding, nesting, nursery, and feeding.
  • Physical features that ensure protection of water quality.
  • Reaches of bank, shore or bed that are predominately natural in appearance (not man-made or artificial) or that screen man-made or artificial features.
  The identified locations are eligible for critical habitat designation, and if approved, they will be sufficiently preserved to ensure healthy aquatic systems and protected to maintain the value of the lake. Special permit conditions may apply to landowners whom wish alter critical habitat sites through activities such as dredging, irrigation, building dams, or establishing culverts, piers, and docks. Furthermore, the chemical treatment of aquatic plants is unlikely to be approved in designated sites. Site-specific reviews will need to be performed by DNR staff in order to determine if the proposed site meets these conditions. More information on critical habitat designation is available on the Critical Habitat Designations page of the DNR Web site.. Additionally, maps illustrating locations of proposed Critical Habitat Areas and the survey data may be reviewed at the Eau Claire DNR Service Center]. Before the Department proceeds further toward a decision on the designation, Wisconsin. Any person may request a public hearing by writing to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; 1300 W. Clairemont Avenue; Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702; attn. Deborah Konkel by U.S. mail postmarked no later than 30 days following publication of this newspaper notice. Because the Department must base its designation on whether the project or activity meets legal standards, the factual information provided at the hearing should relate to whether or not Critical Habitat Areas are present. For information contact Deborah Konkel at 715-839-2782.
• September 19 - The DNR Disabled Advisory Council will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Buckhorn State Park. For further information please contact Andy Janicki, DNR accessibility coordinator, at 608-267-7490 or andrew.janicki@wisconsin.gov.
• September 23-24 - The State Natural Resources Board will meet at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 1000 Imperial Ave., Rothschild. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420. Check the Natural Resources Board Web pages for the current agenda. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420.
• September 26 & 27 - The Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry has begun the process of updating the 15-year master plan for the Flambeau River State Forest, and will conduct two public open house meetings to present the property assessment to citizens, interest groups, recreational users and local units of government. For more information or to request a review copy of the “Regional & Property Analysis” contact: Jim Halvorson, FRSF State Forest Superintendent, Wisconsin DNR, W1613 County Road W, Winter WI 54896-7501 or call 715-332-5271 or e-mail [james.halvorson@wisconsin.gov]. The meetings will be held:
  • September 26, Park Falls - 3 to 7 p.m. at Park Falls City Hall, 400 Fourth Ave. South (Highway 13).
  • September 27, Winter – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Big Bear Lodge Restaurant, W1614 Highway W (Across from FRSF Headquarters).
• October 21-22 - The State Natural Resources Board will meet at a location to be announced in Eagle Riverr. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420. Check the Natural Resources Board Web pages for the current agenda. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420.
• December 9-10 - The State Natural Resources Board will meet in Room G09 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster St., Madison. Check the Natural Resources Board Web pages for the current agenda. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420.
• January 27-28, 2009 - The State Natural Resources Board will meet in Room G09 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster St., Madison. Check the Natural Resources Board Web pages for the current agenda. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420.