NRB_Content Page_February 2024 agenda and meeting materials

February 2024 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

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

SINCE THE POSTING OF THIS AGENDA, THE FOLLOWING HAS CHANGED:
Item 4.B has been removed (2/22/24)
Item 8.B green sheet added

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 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 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.

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

https://youtube.com/live/N1BRJq4VxaE?feature=share

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AMENDED AGENDA

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

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in public meeting room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street Madison, Wisconsin. Board will act on items 1-4 and 7 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 Feb. 28, 2024
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from Jan. 24, 2024.
    2. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Havenwoods State Forest donated $42,550. This donation will be used to support natural resources educational programming and habitat restoration improvements.
      (Deputy Secretary Little)
    3. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Lakeshore State Park donated $31,422. This donation will be used to support educational expenses and habitat restoration projects at Lakeshore State Park.
      (Deputy Secretary Little)
    4. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Board of Directors (Friends of Horicon) donated $21,099.84. This donation will be used to cover the personnel costs of a limited term employee position.
      (Deputy Secretary Little)
  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 FH-10-22, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 26 related to fish refuge establishment.
      (Justine Hasz, Fisheries Management Bureau Director)
    SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order DG-16-23 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 809 related to control of lead and copper in public drinking water, to be consistent with the 2021 federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and the anticipated 2024 federal Lead and Copper Rule improvements.
      (Ann Hirekatur, Lead & Copper Rule Section Chief)       DELETED
    OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 
    1. Easement and Monetary Donation – Egg Harbor Cliffs State Habitat Area – Door County – Requesting approval to accept the following donations from Alpine Resort Acquisition Company, LLC (Alpine): conservation and maintenance easements on 9.22 acres under the authority of ss. 23.09(2)(d)(6) and 14. and 23.09(10), Wis. Stats., and NR 1.41(1)(e), Wis. Admin. Code, and a monetary donation of $150,000 under the authority of s. 23.09(2)(o), Wis. Stats., and Manual Code 1403.1.
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
    2. Land Sale – Oconto Falls Ranger Station – Oconto County – The department is requesting approval to sell the 1.03-acre improved former Oconto Falls Ranger Station site to Oconto County for the appraised value of $150,000.00 under the authority of s. 23.15(1), Wis. Stats., and NR 1.41(1)(h), Wis. Admin. Code. The department would retain an easement in perpetuity on the property in order to maintain and operate the existing Smokey Prevention Sign.
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
  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. Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
  6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Report of the 2023-2024 deer seasons
      (Jamie Adams, Customer and Outreach Services Field Operations Section Manager; Molly Meister, Public Affairs Section Manager, Office of Communications; Casey Krueger, Chief Warden; Jeff Pritzl, Deer Program Specialist)
    2. Wolf Rule Update
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist and Eric Lobner, Wildlife Management Bureau Director)
    3. The 2024 Wildlife Management Spring Hearing agenda of advisory questions
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
    4. The 2024 Fisheries Management Spring Hearing agenda of advisory questions
      (Justine Hasz, Fisheries Management Bureau Director)
    5. Wisconsin Conservation Congress 2024 Spring Hearing Advisory Questions
      (Rob Bohmann, Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chair)
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognition
      1. Kristopher J. Wimme, Forestry, 19 years
      2. Andrea L. Diss-Torrance, Forestry, 31 years
      3. Anne M. Korman, Parks & Recreation, 34 years
      4. Thomas P. Aartila, Water Quality, 35 years
    2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
    3. Department Secretary’s Matters
  1. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
    1. Board Member Spring Hearing Questions
    2. Board member ideas for NRB priorities
    3. 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/N1BRJq4VxaE?feature=share

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 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.

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 may be removed from the meeting or remote location. 

Please contact Ashley Bystol, 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 11:00 a.m. on Feb. 21, 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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