NRB_Content Page_January 2025 agenda and meeting materials

January 2025 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

January 2025 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 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan.15, 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=g8WOBiZcHgQ

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, Jan. 22, 2025

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 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 7-8 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 Jan. 22, 2025
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from Dec. 11, 2024
    2. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin donated $61,260 to the Bureaus of Natural Heritage Conservation and Wildlife Management through the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund: 1) $25,260 for Spread Eagle Barrens SNA, 2) $15,000 for Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest, 3) $21,000 for Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
    3. Request approval of department recommendations for the prohibition of hunting and trapping to protect public safety on land to be purchased with Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds: Village of Mukwonago, Waukesha County
      (Luke Roffler, Stewardship Grant Manager – Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
    4. Request approval of department recommendations for the prohibition of hunting and trapping to protect public safety on land to be purchased with Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant assistance: Crossroads at Big Creek, Door County
      (Luke Roffler, Stewardship Grant Manager – Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
    5. Request approval of department recommendations for the prohibition of gun 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 Platteville, Grant County
      (Luke Roffler, Stewardship Grant Manager – Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
    6. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WA-14-24, 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)
    7. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-21-24, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20 and 25, related to establishing a Lake Michigan lake trout commercial harvest 
      (Justine Hasz, Director, Bureau of Fisheries Management)
  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-20-24 proposed rule repealing s. NR 20.05 (2) related to fishing while in possession of a firearm
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Policy & Regulation Specialist, Bureau of Fisheries Management)
    2. Request that the Board adopt WA-11-22, proposed rules affecting chs. NR 500 to 524, related to landfills, solid waste management fees, financial responsibility and reporting requirements
      (Kate Strom Hiorns, Waste and Materials Management Program Director)

    OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

    1. Land Sale – Bowler Station – Shawano County
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
    2. Request approval of department recommendations for the 2025 bear harvest season
      (Randy Johnson, Large Carnivore 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. Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
  6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Research Study Results
      (Dr. Daniel Storm, Ungulate Research Scientist, Office of Applied Science)
    2. Deer management unit review update
      (Jeff Pritzl, Deer Program Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognition
      1. Brian Spangler, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 38 years
      2. Wendy Anderson, Environmental Management, 31 years
      3. Michael D. Bergum, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 28 years
      4. Jake Chappelle, Environmental Management, 25 years
      5. Bob Hujik, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 22 years
      6. Joan Voigt, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 16 years
    2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
    3. Department Secretary’s Matters
  8. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
    1. Election of Board Officers
    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=g8WOBiZcHgQ

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 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 Jan. 15, 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.

Natural Resources Board