April 2025 Agenda and Meeting Materials

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, April 2, 2025.

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/XNN9rmP_l3k

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AGENDA

For the meeting at:
Room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2)
101 South Webster Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that members of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will have an informal social gathering at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company, 123 East Doty Street, Madison, Wisconsin. 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, April 9, 2025, 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 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 April 9, 2025
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from Feb. 26, 2025
   2. Acknowledgement of Donation - The Friends of Governor Dodge State Park will donate $25,000 to Governor Dodge State Park. This donation of $25,000 will be used to support general operational expenses at the property
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., 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 FH-01-23, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 25, relating to trawling regulations on Lake Michigan
      (Justine Hasz, Fisheries Management Bureau Director)

   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

   2. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order WA-15-24, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number WA-15-24 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 530 relating to implementation of electronics recycling program requirements
      (Sarah Murray, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Manager)
   3. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order DG-02-25 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 numeric standards to minimize the concentration of polluting substances for certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in groundwater base on the 2025 DHS recommendations
      (Dr. Carla Romano, Groundwater Section Manager)

   OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

   4. Request approval of department recommendations for the FY26 Laboratory Accreditation Program Fee Adjustment
      (Zana Sijan, Certification Services Manager)
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. Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Presentation of the Laboratory of the Year Award
      (Zana Sijan, Certification Services Manager)
   2. The Rebecca Wallace Memorial Award
      (Secretary Dr. Karen Hyun; Mike Thompson, Secretary’s Director Southeast Region)
   3. An Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wisconsin’s Wild Birds
      (Jasmine Batten, Wildlife Health Section Supervisor, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
   4. 2025 Wisconsin Wildland Fire Season Preparation and Outlook
      (James Barnier, Division of Forestry Forest Fire Protection Section Chief)
7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition
   2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
   3. Department Secretary’s Matters
8. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
   1. 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/XNN9rmP_l3k

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.

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 a.m. on April 2, 2025.

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.