February 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, Feb. 19, 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI3CB2VXbgA&list=PLz1F3wus1j4waMx2rbPQUEReDmDcngkdT&index=9

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AMENDED AGENDA

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

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, 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.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that following the Agenda Item for Board Members’ Matters, prior to adjournment of the meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street, Madison, WI, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board may convene in closed session under the authority of s. 19.85(1)(d) of the Wisconsin Statutes for a safety and security briefing.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1.  ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
   1. Calling the roll
   2. Secretary’s Remarks
   3. Approval of agenda for Feb. 26, 2025
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from Jan. 22, 2024
   2. Acknowledgement of Donation – Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Fund of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin donated $35,515.48 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
   3. Request approval of department recommendations for the prohibition of hunting and a limitation on types of trapping to protect the public safety on land to be purchased with Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant assistance: City of Schofield, Marathon County
      (Luke Roffler, Stewardship Grant Manager – Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
   4. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WA-15-24, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 530 relating to implementation of electronics recycling program requirements
      (Sarah Murray, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Manager)
   5. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order DG-02-25, 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 based on the 2025 DHS recommendations
      (Dr. Carla Romano, Groundwater Section Manager)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

4. ACTION ITEMS
   ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

   1. Request that the Board adopt germane modifications to 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
      (Kristin Hart, Air Management Program Field Operations Director)
   2. Request that the Board adopt Emergency Board Order WM-11-24 (E) and Board Order WM-12-24, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to revising white-tailed deer management unit boundaries
      (Jeff Pritzl, Deer Program Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
   3. Request that the board adopt Board Order FH-01-23, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 25, relating to trawling regulations on Lake Michigan
      (Justine Hasz, Director, Bureau of Fisheries Management)

   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

   4. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order WY-09-24, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number WY-09-24 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 108, 110, and 150, relating to approval requirements for sewerage projects and facilities
      (Adrian Stocks, Water Quality Bureau Director)
   5. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order WA-14-24, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number WA-14-24 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 157 and 500-526, related to the non-landfill management of solid waste
      (Sarah Murray, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Manager)

   OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

   6. Land Donation and Project Boundary Expansion - Ahnapee State Trail - Kewaunee County
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
   7. Land Donation and Project Boundary Expansion - Chiwaukee Prairie - Carol Beach State Natural Area - Kenosha County
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
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 4 and 5 of the agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Informational update on the Governor’s proposed 2025-27 budget as it relates to the Department of Natural Resources
      (Maggie Hutter, Director of Management and Budget)
   2. Drinking water future issues briefing
      (Steven Elmore, Drinking Water and Groundwater Program Director)
   3. Report of the 2024-2025 deer seasons
      (Jamie Adams, Customer and Outreach Services Field Operations Section Manager; Andi Sedlacek, Acting Communications Director; Casey Krueger, Chief Warden; Jeff Pritzl, Deer Program Specialist)
   4. Update on the 2024 elk season, the population projections and the 2025 harvest quotas
      (Christina Kizewski Wildlife Biologist - Central Elk Zone Biologist)
   5. Informational item on the proposed timeline and process to update the department’s beaver management plan
      (Shawn Rossler, Furbearer Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
   6. Wildlife Management portion of the 2025 Spring Hearing agenda
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
   7. Fisheries Management portion of the 2025 Spring Hearings agenda
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Fisheries Regulations & Policy Specialist)
   8. Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearing agenda questions
      (Rob Bohmann, Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chair)
7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
   1. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
   2. Department Secretary’s Matters
8. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
   1. Board Member spring hearing questions
   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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI3CB2VXbgA&list=PLz1F3wus1j4waMx2rbPQUEReDmDcngkdT&index=9

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 Feb. 19, 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.