Wisconsin NRB Meeting Jan. 24

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) will meet in-person for the January board meeting to consider several proposed rulemaking documents, a proposed land sale and donations.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, originating from public meeting room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF2), 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 as listed on the agenda.

The public is encouraged to watch the January board meeting on the DNR’s YouTube channel.

The deadline to register for public appearance requests and to submit written comments is 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted. In-person public appearances are also welcome.

During the January meeting, several items the Board will be considering include:

• Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WM-18-23, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to the Deer Management Assistance Program
• Request adoption of Board Order PR-03-20, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 1, 11, 45, 51, 115 and 116 related to related to Wisconsin DNR property management regulations
• Request adoption of Board Order FH-14-22, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20 and 26 related to minor changes to fishing regulations on inland, outlying and boundary waters (the 2023 Fisheries Management housekeeping rule)
• Request adoption of Board Order DG-02-22, proposed rules creating chapter NR 854 related to statewide water supply service area planning for municipalities serving populations greater than 10,000 people
• Request adoption of Board Order DG-03-22, proposed rules creating ch. NR 851 related to the management of diversions (transfers of water from the Great Lakes basin to outside of the Great Lakes basin) including the application and review process and other related criteria
• Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order RR-14-23 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 700, 708, 714, 722, 724, 725, 726, 727, and 749 related to definitions, notifications, fees, agreements, reports, and procedures for interim action and remedial action continuing obligations for environmental contamination
• Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order RR-15-23 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 700, 720, and 722 related to definitions, land use classifications, procedures for identifying environmental standards for soil, and soil cleanup standards used to investigate and remediate environmental contamination
• Request approval of department recommendations for the 2024 bear harvest quotas
• Request approval of donation made by the Rice Foundation Research to the Office of Applied Science. The Rice Foundation donated $50,000 to be used by the Office of Applied Science for research studying the responses of aquatic ecosystems to experimental manipulation of ice phenology

• Land Acquisition – Chiwaukee Prairie – Carol Beach Natural Area – Kenosha County. The department is requesting approval to acquire 10.1 acres for the Chiwaukee Prairie – Carol Beach Natural Area (CPCBNA) in Kenosha County from Wisconsin Electric Power Company, a Wisconsin Corporation d/b/a We Energies (WEPCO) for $300,000. 

The complete January NRB meeting agenda is available on the DNR website.

In addition to being encouraged to watch the upcoming meeting, there are opportunities for the public to testify and to submit written comments about issues that come before the NRB. More information regarding public participation at Board meetings is available on the DNR website.