NRB_Content Page_August 2024 agenda and meeting materials

August 2024 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

August 2024 Natural Resources Board agenda. This is the official agenda.

View Wisconsin Natural Resources Board agendas, meeting calendar, webcasts, biographies and public participation info online at http://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/overview.html

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.

The Natural Resources Board will meet in-person. Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted for this meeting. In person public appearances are also welcome. Members of the public can submit their request to testify remotely, in person, or their written comments by the posted deadline date for Board consideration. Written comment is welcome on any agenda item. Public testimony may be accepted on Action Items and Open Forum in accordance with the Board’s public participation guidelines at: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/NRB/public.html.

The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube:

https://youtube.com/live/2TqovM99CDQ

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AGENDA

For the meeting at:
St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake
777 Highway 8/63
Turtle Lake, WI 54889

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will tour and/or receive presentations at the following locations (NOTE: The public must pre-register with Board Liaison to attend scheduled tours. Registration information is located on the last page of the agenda. Exact tour schedule is subject to change): 1) At approximately 11:00 a.m., the Board will gather at Interstate Park, 1275 Hwy 35, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 for a tour of the Interstate Park Interpretive Center. 2) At approximately 11:30 a.m., the Board will gather at the Interstate Park Interpretive Center for lunch and presentations regarding Parks, Friends Groups, the Ice Age Trail, and Wild Rivers. 3) At approximately 12:15 p.m., the Board will hike the Interstate Park Pothole Trail Area. 4) At approximately 1:15 p.m., the Board will travel to St. Croix Fish Hatchery, 230 River St., St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 for a tour of the hatchery. 5) At approximately 2:30 p.m., the Board will travel to Sterling Barrens State Natural Area, GPS Coordinates 45.565634, -92.8077, for a tour and presentations regarding property history, Barrens NW Pine Management, Sharp-tail, and Control Burn Program. The Tuesday tours will end at approximately 4 p.m. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board and Tribal Representatives will have a social hour and dinner meeting in the Book Room at the St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake, 777 Highway 8/63, Turtle Lake, WI 54889. 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, Aug. 14, 2024, at the Event Center, St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake, 777 Highway 8/63, Turtle Lake, WI 54889. 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. Secretary’s Remarks
    3. Approval of agenda for Aug. 14, 2024
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from June 26, 2024
    2. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order LE-05-24, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 64 related to all-terrain vehicles
      (Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator)
    3. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Peninsula State Park donated purpose-built mountain bike trails (phase one) valued at $650,000. This donation will be used to construct approximately nine new miles of mountain bike trails for park visitors
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
    4. Acknowledgement of Donation – Marathon County donated up to $175,000 of services to repair and replace the jointly operated Big Eau Pleine Aerator
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
    5. Acknowledgement of Donation – Matt and Anne Drewry donated $110,000. This donation will be used to build an open-air picnic shelter to provide a comfortable space for park users to gather in all types of weather at Kettle Moraine State Forest − Northern Unit
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
    6. Approval of Donation – Request that the board approves the donation of $50,000 from FIELD Edventures to be used by the Bureau of Fisheries Management to support a project for Spider Lake Chain in Sawyer County that studies the interaction between northern pike and muskellunge to better understand why muskellunge populations have declined in systems where northern pike have been introduced
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
    7. Approval of Donation – Request that the board approves the donation of $10,000 from Dairymen’s Foundation, Inc. to be used by the Bureau of Fisheries Management to support University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point master’s student graduate research investigating the distribution of fish community production in lakes with stable walleye recruitment versus those where walleye recruitment has declined over time in Forest, Oneida, and Vilas County lakes
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
    8. Approval of Donation – Request that the board approves the donation of $5,000 from Hayward Lake Chapter of Muskies, Inc. to be used by the Bureau of Fisheries Management to support the study of the interaction between northern pike and muskellunge to better understand why muskellunge populations have declined in systems where northern pike have been introduced
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
  3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
  4. ACTION ITEMS
    ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Request adoption of Board Order AM-05-22, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 439 to simplify, reduce, and make more efficient the reporting, recordkeeping, testing, inspection, and determination of compliance requirements for sources of air contaminants
      (Maria Hill, Compliance, Enforcement & Emissions Inventory Section Manager)
    SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Request that the Board approves the statement of scope for Board Order WA-08-24 and Emergency Board Order WA-07-24(E), and conditionally approves the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chs. NR 500 and 520 to provide an alternative method for a municipality to establish proof of financial responsibility required for a solid waste disposal facility
      (Michael Schmit, Business Support and IT Section Manager)
    2. Request that the Board approves the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order WM-11-24(E) and Board Order WM-12-24 and conditionally approves the public hearing notice for WM-12-23 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to revising white-tailed deer management unit boundaries
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
    3. Request that the Board approves the statement of scope for Board Order DG-04-24, and conditionally approves the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 809, related to updating lead and copper requirements for public drinking water in order to be consistent with revised federal requirements
      (Ann Hirekatur, Lead and Copper Section Manager)
    APPROVAL OF ELK MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ADOPTION OF RULE (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 
    1. Request approval of the Wisconsin Elk Management Plan 2024-2034
      (Sam Jonas, Species Section Supervisor)
    2. Request the Board adopt WM-05-23, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to elk management
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
  5. OPEN FORUM (Testimony that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda or not in litigation) – after items 1-4 or following morning break at approximately 10:15 a.m.
  6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Overview of WI DNR boating safety program, wake boat briefing, and aquatic invasive species considerations
      (Lt. Darren Kuhn, Boating Law Administrator & Michelle Nault, Lakes and Rivers Section Manager)
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognition
      1. Jeremy J. Plautz, Public Safety and Resource Protection, 28 years
      2. Jean M. Romback-Bartels, Regional Administration, 31 years
      3. Dan G. Baumann, Regional Administration, 32 years
    2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
    3. Department Secretary’s Matters
  1. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
    1. Approval of the 2025 Natural Resources Board Meeting Dates
    2. Board Member Matters

The public is welcome to view the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting via YouTube. 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 at http://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/public.html.

The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube:

https://youtube.com/live/2TqovM99CDQ

The following meeting resources are also available: Agenda Item Packets (also known as green sheet packages are linked to the corresponding item on the online meeting agenda at https://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/ – click on the blue “View agendas” button then scroll down), supporting documents, and public comment. 

Live transcription of the webcast is autogenerated 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. In-person public appearances are also welcome. 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 for item 5. – Open Forum - will be after items 1-4 or immediately following the morning break at approximately 10:15 a.m. If you request to testify during Open Forum, please be ready to speak when the Board takes up this item. Each speaker will have three minutes to give their testimony; however, the Board Chair has final discretion on time limit.

Please contact the NRB Liaison, at 608-267-7420 or by email at dnrnrbliaison@wisconsin.gov with NRB-related questions, to request information, submit written comments or to register to testify at a meeting.

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.

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.

 

Natural Resources Board

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