September 2020 Agenda and Meeting Materials

In light of COVID-19, the Natural Resources Board will be meeting via eConference. The public will not be allowed to watch the meeting from GEF 2. 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 this link.

NOTICES HEREBY GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene via eConference at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, originating from 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 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 September 23, 2020
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from July 30, 2020 special meeting
   2. Approval of brief of action from August 12, 2020
   3. Friends of Horicon Marsh International Education Center will donate $19,030.36 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management to be used to support the center and fund Wildlife education programs
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
   4. Sturgeon for Tomorrow will donate $20,000 to the Bureau of Fish Management to be used to support the purchase of rock riprap for a sturgeon spawning habitat project planned for Fall 2020
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
   5. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order CF-12-19, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 162, related to the Clean Water Fund Loan Program.
      (Jim Ritchie, Director, Bureau of Community Financial Assistance)
   6. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order CF-13-19, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 166, related to the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program.
      (Jim Ritchie, Director, Bureau of Community Financial Assistance)
   7. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order AM-31-19, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 438 related to clarifying and updating air contaminant emissions inventory reporting requirements
      (Maria Hill, Compliance, Enforcement, & Emissions Section Chief)
   8. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WM-11-20, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to revising white-tailed deer 3-year deer management unit boundaries
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist
   9. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-08-20, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20, related to guide licenses and reporting requirements
      (Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management Policy Specialist)
   10. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-09-20, related to the 2021 Fisheries Management Spring Hearing rule for fishing regulations on inland, outlying and boundary waters
       (Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management Policy Specialist)
   11. Request authorization of a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-10-20 and Emergency Board Order FH-12-20(E), for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20 and 25, related to fish harvest in Lake Superior
       (Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management Policy Specialist) ADDED
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
   None
4. ACTION ITEMS
   ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   None
   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   None
   MISCELLANEOUS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Land Acquisition – Brule River State Forest – Douglas County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
   2. Request approval of the department's 2021-23 biennial budget, including Operating, Capital, and bonding components.
      PowerPoint Presentation 1 Little
      PowerPoint Presentation 2 Bay
      (Steven Little, Management and Budget Bureau Director, and Terry Bay, Facilities and Lands Bureau Director) MODIFIED
5. 1. OPEN FORUM (Testimony that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda) – at approximately 9:45 a.m. or following break. Remote testimony only; no face-to-face presentations. Please refer to pages 4-5 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
   2. RECOGNITION
      1. Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chair Larry Bonde
         (Dr. Frederick Prehn, Chair)
      2. Presentation of the 2020 Laboratory of the Year
         PowerPoint Presentation
         (Steve Geis, Certification Services Section Chief)
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Congress Matters: 2020 Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearing Advisory Question Summary
      (Tony Blattler, Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) Chair)
   2. DNR COVID-19 Update
      PowerPoint Presentation
      (Beth Bier, DNR Deputy Secretary)
   3. Overview of NRB Role in Rulemaking and Master Plans
      PowerPoint Presentation
      (Cheryl Heilman, Chief Counsel)
   4. Update on the progress of the Deer Management Assistance Program and presentation of the 2020 Cooperator of the Year Award
      PowerPoint Presentation
      (Bob Nack, Big Game Section Chief)
   5. Increased outreach and promotional activities for deer hunting
      (Eric Lobner, Wildlife Management Bureau Director, and Bob Nack, Big Game Section Chief) ADDED
   6. Informational item on wolf management and population status
      PowerPoint Presentation
      (Keith Warnke, Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Division Administrator) ADDED
7. DEPARTMENTS SECRETARY'S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition - Action
      1. David H. Bartz, Fisheries, 31 years
      2. Jason A. Doskocil, Forestry, 32 years
      3. David J. Walz, Law Enforcement, 22 years
   2. Department Secretary’s Matters – Informational
      1. Acts of the Department Secretary – Real Estate Transactions
      2. Department Secretary’s Matters
      3. Planning Status Update - None
8. BOARD MEMBERS' MATTERS

The public is welcome to attend a (face-to-face) 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 the webcast archive and click on this month’s meeting. After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand.

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. Media Site recordings and the Brief of Action are used as the legal record of Board Meetings.

Public Appearance Protocol: Only remote testimony (no face-to-face appearances) will be offered at the September meeting. You must be pre-registered to testify. Those that do not pre-register will not have the opportunity to testify. 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. The time that item 5. – Open Forum may be before the Board is approximately 9:45 a.m. You may lose your opportunity to testify if you are late. Each speaker will have three minutes to give their testimony.

Due to public health advisories on COVID-19, all 2020 regional meetings and tours have been cancelled and moved to Madison. Future 2020 Open Forum remote presentation opportunities may be held at the following DNR locations (schedule is subject to change):

Please contact Laurie Ross, NRB Liaison, at 608-267-7420 or by email at laurie.ross@wisconsin.gov with NRB related questions, to request information, to submit written comments, to register to attend a Board tour, and to register to testify at a meeting or listening session.

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your request to testify or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2020

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.