Hearings and Meetings Calendar

Legal

Prehearing Conference For Legend Lake Protection And Rehabilitation District Aquatic Plant Management Permit

Start Date: 07/14/2025

End Date: 07/14/2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. - End of Agenda

Location: Virtual

Division of Hearings and Appeals, 608-266-7709

On March 20, 2025, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a Permit No. NE-2025-40-2220 to the Legend Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District to Conduct Chemical Aquatic Plant Management on Legend Lake, Menominee County, Wisconsin. Midwest Environmental Advocates, on behalf of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (Petitioner), filed a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing with the DNR to review the decision to issue the permit to the Legend Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.42. By letter dated May 5, 2025, the DNR granted the request for contested case hearing and limited the hearing to the following issues:

1. Whether Permit No. NE-2025-40-22420 meets the standards for issuance pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code §§ NR 107.05(3) and (4); and

2. Whether Legend Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Complied with the procedural requirement of Wis. Admin. Code § NR 107.04(4).

Also on May 5, 2025, the DNR suspended Permit No. NE-2025-40-22420 pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code § NR 107.05(2) pending resolution of the contested case. On March 15, 2025, the Division of Hearings and Appeals received, for filing, a request for a hearing from the DNR. The parties have agreed to a date for a prehearing conference.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State of Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals will hold a prehearing conference on the above-captioned matter pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.44, Wis. Stat. § 227.46(1), Wis. Admin. Code § NR 2.08(5), and Wis. Admin. Code § NR 2.12, at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025, via Microsoft Teams. Interested persons may request an email invitation to the Teams Video Conference by contacting the Division of Hearings and Appeals at 608-266-7709. Alternatively, those interested in participating may participate by telephone by calling 608-571-2209 and entering Meeting ID 707 134 133#.

Any person, organization or governmental unit wishing to become a party to this proceeding must attend the conference personally or by an authorized representative. The purpose of the prehearing conference will be to identify parties to the proceeding, to simplify or clarify the issues which may be contested at the hearing, identify witnesses, discuss the exchange of exhibits, establish a discovery schedule, address any other matters as may aid in the disposition of the action, and schedule a date for the contested case hearing. No testimony will be heard at the prehearing conference. However, a date may be selected for a contested case hearing.

All parties are advised that they have the right to seek the aid and assistance of legal counsel and to be represented by legal counsel at the contested case hearing.

Pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations will be made to any qualified individual upon request.  Please call the Division of Hearings and Appeals at 608-266-7709 with specific information on your request before the date of the scheduled prehearing or hearing.

Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council | Events | Public Input

Nonmotorized Recreation And Transportation Trails Council Meeting

Start Date: 07/16/2025

End Date: 07/16/2025

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Sarah Bolser, Sarah.Bolser@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-5172

The council carries out studies and provides advice and consultation to the legislature, governor, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Transportation on all matters related to nonmotorized recreation and transportation trails, including trail planning, acquisition, development, maintenance and management.

Location and meeting info TBD. 

Prehearing Conference Concerning Ridge Breeze Dairy WPDES Permit

Start Date: 07/17/2025

End Date: 07/17/2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. - End of Agenda

Location: Virtual

Division of Hearings and Appeals, 608-266-7709

On Feb. 20, 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Department) noticed the final determination to issue WPDES Permit WI-0062928-04-2 to Ridge Breeze Dairy, LLC. (Permittee). On April 21, 2025, GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW), Larry Brenner, Ty Fisher, Kay Kashian, Dick Dart, and Gerald Steien (Petitioners) filed a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing with the Department pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 227.42-227.50 and 283.63. 

By letter dated April 28, 2025, the Department granted the Petitioners’ request for a contested case hearing on two issues. The issues for hearing are: 

1. Are Section 1.6 of the Modified Permit and the Nutrient Management Plan unreasonable because the Nutrient Management Plan submitted by Ridge Breeze fails to comply with Wis. Admin. Code § NR 243.14?
2. Is the Modified Permit unreasonable because it fails to ensure that discharges authorized by the Modified Permit comply with groundwater quality standards? 

On April 30, 2025, the Division of Hearings and Appeals received, for filing, an original request for hearing from the Department. The parties have conferred and agreed to a date for a prehearing conference. 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State of Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals will hold a prehearing conference on the above-captioned matter pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.46(1) and Wis. Admin. Code §§ NR 2.08(5) and 2.12, at 10 a.m. on July 17, 2025, via Microsoft Teams. Interested persons may request an email invitation to the Teams Telephone Conference by contacting the Division of Hearings and Appeals at 608-266-7709. Alternatively, those interested may participate by telephone by calling 608-571-2209 and entering Phone Conference ID 602 985 874#. 

Any person, organization, or governmental unit wishing to become a party to this proceeding must attend the conference personally or through an authorized representative. The purpose of the prehearing conference will be to identify parties to the proceeding, to simplify or clarify the issues which may be contested at the hearing, identify witnesses, discuss the exchange of exhibits, establish a discovery schedule, address any other matters as may aid in the disposition of the action, and confirm the date for the contested case hearing. No testimony will be heard at the prehearing conference. 

The hearing in this matter is a Class 1 contested case pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.01(3)(a), and the fair play provisions of Wis. Stat. ch. 227 will apply. The procedures relating to contested cases set forth in Wis. Admin. Code Ch. NR 2 will be followed. Said procedures will closely resemble those that are normally followed at a trial in state circuit court. All parties are advised that they have the right to seek the aid and assistance of legal counsel and to be represented by legal counsel at the contested case hearing. 

The permits, petitions and other information relating to the petitioner are on file and may be inspected and copied at the offices of the Department of Natural Resources, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Copies of documents on file related to the permit may be obtained by writing to the Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7921. Reasonable costs will be charged for copies of all information, excluding public notices and fact sheets. 

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations will be made to any qualified individual upon request. Please call the Division of Hearings and Appeals at 608-266-7709 with specific information on your request prior to the date of the scheduled prehearing or hearing.