NRB_Content Page_September 2025 agenda and meeting materials

September 2025 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

September 2025 Natural Resources Board agenda. This is the official agenda.

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

Public Participation Deadline: Requests to testify and/or submit written comments must be received by the NRB Liaison no later than 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 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=V46Ii3h1KBg&list=PLz1F3wus1j4waMx2rbPQUEReDmDcngkdT&index=1

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, Sept. 24, 2025

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 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 Sept. 24, 2025
       
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from Aug. 13, 2025
    2. Acknowledgment of Donation – Friends of Crex donated $24,000 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management to fund educational signage and program expenses, as well as road and parking lot improvements within the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    3. Acknowledgment of Donation - The Paul E. Stry Foundation will donate $25,000 to the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation. This donation will be used for restoration and management at State Natural Areas in the Driftless Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    4. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will donate $26,907.09 and $21,830.13 for Southern Kettle Moraine State Natural Areas and Baraboo Hills State Natural Areas, respectively. These donations will be used to manage habitat at State Natural Areas
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    5. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of Belmont Mound State Park donated the purchase and installation of benches and signage valued at $17,765.09. This donation will be used to increase visibility and accessibility of trails at Belmont Mound State Park
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    6. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of Yellowstone Lake State Park donated a restoration project valued at $16,402. This donation will be used to support remnant prairie restoration at Yellowstone Lake State Park and Yellowstone Savanna State Natural Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    7. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of Peninsula State Park donated the construction of the second phase of the purpose-built mountain bike trail system valued at $725,000. This donation will be used to complete the final approximately 11 miles of the trail system
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    8. Acknowledgment of Donation – Fox Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited donated $34,000 to the Bureau of Fisheries Management to fund an LTE work crew and support our trout stream habitat improvement projects in Waushara and Waupaca counties
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    9. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order NH-08-25, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 40, related to invasive species
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
    10. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order NH-04-25, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 12, 16, 19, 21, 22, 27, 40 and 45 related to amphibian and reptile regulations
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
    11. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-10-25 for proposed rules affecting chs. NR 20, 21, 22, and 23 related to interpretation of possession limits between the boundary waters between Wisconsin and neighboring states and the inland and outlying waters
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Fisheries Regulations & Policy Specialist)
       
  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 Board Order WM-17-24, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to the 2025 Wildlife Management Spring Hearing Rule
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
    2. Request that the Board adopt Board Order DG-03-23, proposed rules affecting Subchapter III of ch. NR 812, to update, correct and clarify existing code requirements and add requirements for new pump installations and water treatment and other specified code requirements
      (Marty Nessman, Private Water Supply Section Manager)
    3. Request that the Board adopt DG-04-23, proposed rules affecting ch. NR 146 related to water well driller, heat exchange driller, and pump installer licensing and registration, and drilling rig operator registration
      (Marty Nessman, Private Water Supply Section Manager)
       

    SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

    1. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order FWP-22-24 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 1, 5, 10, 11, 17 to 20, 26, 27, 45, and 51 related to minor changes to DNR property management regulations (the 2025 property management housekeeping rule)
      (Meredith Penthorn, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Policy Specialist)
    2. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order WA-01-25 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chs. NR 660 to 679, pertaining to hazardous waste recordkeeping and reporting requirements, Canadian import-export operation codes, and standards for spent refrigerants being recycled for reuse
      (Kate Strom-Hiorns, Waste and Materials Management Bureau Director)


    OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

    1. Land Acquisition – Tichigan Wildlife Area - Racine County
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
    2. Land Acquisition – Adams Station – Adams 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 item on inter-agency outreach and education efforts related to the topic of potential lead in venison
      (Jasmine Batten- Wildlife Health Section Supervisor, Department of Natural Resources; Brian Weaver - Policy Initiatives Advisor, Department of Health Services)
    2. Fish and Wildlife Account Audit
      (Maggie Hutter, Director of Management and Budget)
    3. 2025 PFAS-Based Fish & Wildlife Advisories 
      (Jasmine Batten- Wildlife Health Section Supervisor, Department of Natural Resources; Brian Weaver - Policy Initiatives Advisor, Department of Health Services)
       
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognition
      1. Randal Piette, Division of Environmental Management – Water Quality, 38 years
    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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V46Ii3h1KBg&list=PLz1F3wus1j4waMx2rbPQUEReDmDcngkdT&index=1

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, register to testify at a meeting or to register to attend a tour.

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 Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources are committed to ensuring access for individuals with disabilities. To request information in an alternative format, please contact the NRB Liaison.

Natural Resources Board

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