DNR Public Hearings and Meetings
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call the contact person listed for the meeting or hearing with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Hearings
2008
January 8 - Pursuant to §§ 227.11(2)(a), 227.14(1m)(a), 285.11(1) and 285.27(2)(a), Stats., interpreting §§ 285.11(6) and 285.27(2)(a), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on revisions to chs. NR 460 and 469, Wisconsin Administrative Code, relating to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for halogenated solvent cleaners and the NESHAP general provisions at 11:30 a.m. in Room 511 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published amendments to the NESHAP general provisions and to the NESHAP for halogenated solvent cleaning operations. Section 285.27(2)(a), Stats., requires the Department to promulgate NESHAP into the administrative code. The amendments to the general provisions revise the language relating to startup, shutdown and malfunction plans and add force majeure as a reason for being unable to meet a performance test deadline. The amendments to the halogenated solvent cleaning rule add control requirements for continuous web cleaning machines, add a facility-wide standard and exempt small sources from the requirement to obtain an operating permit. Pursuant to § 227.114, Stats., the proposed rule may have an impact on any small business which is a major source of hazardous air pollutant emissions, especially the ones which operate one or more continuous web cleaning machines. DNR staff have made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. The proposed rule and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate may be viewed and downloaded and comments electronically submitted through the [http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov} Web site (search this Web site using the Natural Resources Board Order No. AM-31-07). Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted until January 11, 2008 via U.S. mail to Mr. Roger Fritz, Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by e-mail to Roger.Fritz@wisconsin.gov. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. More information or a copy of the proposed rule and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate may also be obtained from Robert Eckdale, Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by calling him (608) 266-2856.
January 9 - The State of Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals will hold a public contested case hearing pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 227.42, Wis. Admin. Code § NR 2, Wis. Stat. § 281.36, and Wis. Admin. Code Chap. 299, relating to the grant of water quality certification for Catherine Debarros to place wetland fill for a roadway in the town of Laona, Forest County, Wisconsin, at 9:30 a.m. in the County Board Room, Forest County Courthouse, 200 East Madison St., Crandon. The hearing will continue on January 10, 2007 if not completed on January 9. A site visit will be included as part of the hearing process. On April 26, 2006, Ms. Catherine DeBarros (Applicant), 3900 Mill Street, Laona, Wisconsin, 54541, filed an application with the Department of Natural Resources for Wetland Water Quality Certification to place fill material in wetlands for the proposed purpose of creating a connecting road for residential access. The proposed project is located in the SW ¼, SW ¼, of section 21, Township 36 North, Range 15 East. The Department of Natural Resources issued a Wetland WQC (Non-Federal) Permit number IP-NO-2006-21010UG on Oct. 6, 2006. The DNR received a petition for a contested case hearing challenging the issuance of the permit. For information contact the Division of Hearings And Appeals at (414) 258-6736.
January 14 - Pursuant to §§ 227.11(2)(a) and 281.15, Stats., interpreting § 281.15, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold the last of three public hearings on revisions to ch. NR 105, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to surface water quality criteria at 6 p.m. in Conference Room A, Jim Coughlin Building, 625 County Road Y, Oshkosh. The Department is proposing to update surface water quality criteria for 15 substances and to develop new surface water quality criteria for 2 other substances. These updates and additions are the result of two federal initiatives. First, in 2000 U.S. EPA formally objected to aquatic life criteria for several substances in ch. NR 105 because the state criteria were not as protective as the federal criteria. Second, U.S. EPA has developed and updated human health criteria for some additional substances subsequent to the 2000 objections. The Department’s proposed updates and additions will ensure federal approval of the criteria for those substances. No changes are proposed in the procedures used for developing criteria in ch. NR 105, only the numerical criteria for some of the substances regulated are being addressed at this time. Of the 18 substances proposed for criteria revisions, it is estimated that no discharge permits will be affected for 14 of those substances. This is because the criteria are high enough and/or the discharge levels are low enough that no effluent limitations will be needed in any permit. The only substances for which changes in permit limitations are foreseen are arsenic, copper, nickel and selenium. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov or to JamesW.Schmidt@Wisconsin.gov. A copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Jim Schmidt, Bureau of Watershed Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until Feb. 16, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail to Schmidt at the above address and will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings.
January 15, 17, 25 & 28 - Pursuant to §§ 227.11(2), 281.15, 283.13 and 283.17, Stats., interpreting §§ 281.15, 283.13 and 283.17, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the repeal of ch. NR 209, revisions to ch. NR 102 and the creation of subchs. V and VI to ch. NR 106, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to thermal standards for Wisconsin surface waters. The proposed rule will establish water quality standards for temperature (in ch. NR 102) and procedures to calculate water quality-based effluent limitations (in ch. NR 106) to regulate the discharge of heated wastewater to prevent adverse impacts to fish and other aquatic life. Two new subchapters will be created in ch. NR 106: subch. V entitled Effluent Limitations for Temperature and subch. VI entitled Alternative Effluent Limitations for Temperature. Subchapter V specifies data requirements, variance procedures, methods for determining the necessity for and calculation of water quality-based effluent limitations, application of and compliance with the limitations in WPDES permits, and other related limitation and permitting issues. As a primary means of assuring the limitations are water quality-based, the proposed rule takes into account the ambient temperature and flow of a receiving water in the calculation of effluent limitations. The effluent limitation calculation incorporates a mass balance equation, making it equivalent to other codified limit calculation procedures. The mass balance approach enables the determination of the amount of heat that a receiving water can assimilate without adversely affecting fish and aquatic life. Supplemental limits, including those of 120°F to prevent incidental injury (scalding) to humans and of 95°F to protect wetlands, ephemeral streams, and other limited aquatic life waterbodies, are also proposed. Additionally a “cap limit” is to be applied simultaneously with the calculated limit to prevent excessive acute mixing zones. Subchapter VI specifies procedures to determining alternative effluent limitations that may be established for point source discharges with limitations calculated under subch. V that are demonstrated to be more stringent than necessary to assure the protection and propagation of a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish and wildlife in and on the body of water into which the discharge is made. The subchapter includes application, compliance schedule and public notice procedures, among others. Subchapter VI replaces ch. NR 209 which is proposed to be repealed. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Michael Wenholz, Bureau of Watershed Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until Feb. 28, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. More information or a copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Wenholz. The hearings will be held:
January 15, Eau Claire - 1 p.m. in Room 158, DNR Region Hdqrs., 1300 W. Clairemont Ave.,
January 17, Waukesha - 1 p.m. in Room 151, Dreyfus State Office Building, 141 NW Barstow St.,
January 25, Madison - 1 p.m. in Room G09, GEF #2 State Office Bldg., 101 S. Webster St.,
January 28, Green Bay - 1 p.m. in the Lake Michigan Room, DNR Northeast Region Hdqrs., 2984 Shawano Ave.
January 15, 16 &17 - Pursuant to §§ 30.20(1), (1k), (1t) and (2), 30.206 and 227.11(2), Stats., interpreting §§ 30.20(1), (1g), (1k), (1m), (1t) and (2) and 30.206, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to ch. NR 345, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to general permit standards to allow operation of a motor vehicle on the beds of outlying waters to remove algae, mussels, dead fish and similar large public nuisance deposits and for the removal and control of invasive plants on exposed lakebeds. The operation of motor vehicles and the removal or disturbance of materials on the beds of navigable waterways (also known as dredging) is regulated by ch. 30, Stats., and ch. NR 345. The statutes and current rule allow lakefront property owners to apply for an individual permit to use mechanized methods to remove nuisance deposits or other invasive or unwanted vegetation. However, individual permits require a $500 application fee and a 30-day public comment period before the permit can be issued. Considering the changing lakeshore due to decreased water levels and the abundance of invasive species, the department proposes to revise ch. NR 345 to create two new general permits. The general permits would allow lakefront property owners to operate motor vehicles on the beds of “outlying” navigable waters to remove public nuisance deposits (Cladophora, Zebra mussels, dead fish, etc.) and to control and manage invasive vegetation on exposed lakebed more efficiently while complying with general permit conditions created to protect the public interest in the lakebed. The general permit has a $50 application fee and is processed in 30 days. Pursuant to § 227.114, Stats., the proposed rules may have an impact on small businesses including contractors, developers and consultants who provide plans or design for projects along public navigable waterways which may include the removal of unwanted aquatic plants and dead animals from shoreline as well as participating in invasive species control and management. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov or to MartinP.Griffin@Wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Martin Griffin, Bureau of Watershed Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until Jan. 21, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. More information or a copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Griffin at the above address or at - (608) 266-0842. The hearings will be held:
January 15, Waukesha - 10 a.m. in Room 151, Dreyfus State Office Building, 141 NW Barstow St.
January 16, Green Bay - 10 a.m. in Lake Michigan Room, DNR Northeast Region Hdqrs., 2984 Shawano Ave.
January 17, Video conference participation will be available at 10 a.m. in:
Ashland - Room 306, Conference Center, Wis. Indianhead Tech. College, 2100 Beaser Ave.
Marinette - Room L130, UW Center – Marinette, 750 W. Bay Shore St.
Superior - Large Conference Room, DOT Superior-District 8, 1701 N. 4th St.
January 16 – A public hearing on revision to an air pollution control permit No. 03-RV-248-R3.for Wisconsin Public Service Corporation - Weston Plant located at 2501 Morrison Avenue, Rothschild, Marathon County, Wisconsin, will be held at 1 p.m. in the Rib Mountain Town Hall, 3700 N. Mountain Road, Wausau. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation submitted to the Department of Natural Resources a request to revise air pollution control permit which was issued on October 19, 2004. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation - Weston Plant has requested that the permit be revised to clarify a series of requirements in the permit, revise record keeping procedures and add two small natural gas fired space heaters. The Central Office of the DNR has analyzed this material and has preliminarily determined that the project should meet applicable criteria for permit approval as stated in ss. 285.63 and 285.64, Wis. Stats. and should, therefore, be approved. This preliminary approval does not constitute approval from the Air Management Program or other DNR sections which may also require review. Written comments from the public regarding the proposed permit revisions will be considered in the DNR’s final decision regarding this proposal. Information, including plans and the DNR's analysis regarding this proposal, is available for public inspection on the Air Permit page of the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/permits/APM_toc.htm] and at the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Air Management, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, WI 53707. Interested persons wishing to comment on the preliminary determination should submit written comments to: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Central Office, 101 S. Webster Street, Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. Attn.: Steven Dunn.
January 17 A telephone prehearing conference in the matter of the petition of United Liquid Waste Recycling, Inc. for review of WPDES Permit No. WI-0061514-02 will be held at 10 a.m. originating from the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-3865 with 5005 University Avenue, Suite 201, Madison. Any person, organization or governmental unit wishing to become a party to this proceeding must appear at the conference in person or by an authorized representative. No testimony will be heard at the prehearing conference; however, a date may be set for the hearing on the merits at the conference. The Department of Natural Resources issued WPDES Permit No. WI-0061514-02-0 on Oct. 3, 2007, to regulate the discharges associated with the operations of United Liquid Waste Recycling, Inc.’s storage and treatment facility and land application activities. The subject facility is located at N2797 State Highway 26 in the Town of Clyman, Dodge County, Wisconsin and discharges into the groundwater of the Rock River Basin. The department received a petition for Contested Case Hearing to review the reasonableness of and necessity for certain terms in the permit. When the hearing is held it will be a Class 1 contested case pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.01(3)(a). For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
January 17 - A public hearing pursuant to §§ 285.13(1) and 285.61(7), Wis. Stats. to receive public comments on the proposed Air Pollution Control Construction Permit No. 07-SDD-247 and Air Pollution Control Operation Permit No. 241007690-P11 for Wisconsin WE Energies, Oak Creek Station, 11060 S. Chicago, Oak Creek, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin will be held at 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Oak Creek City Hall, 8640 South Howell Ave., Oak Creek. WE Energies submitted to the Department of Natural Resources a permit application, including plans and specifications for construction and operation of material storage piles and material storage vessels. DNR has made a preliminary determination that the application meets state and federal air pollution control requirements and that the permit should be approved. The permit application, the DNR’s analysis and draft permit prepared by the DNR may be reviewed on the Air Permit page of the DNR Web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/air/permitzip/APM_toc.htm.] or at the DNR Air Management Headquarters, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster St., Madison; DNR Southeast Region Headquarters, 2300 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee; and at the Oak Creek Public Library, 8620 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek, or by contacting Steven Dunn at (608) 267-0566 or by e-mail at Steven.Dunn@wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the application or DNR’s review may be submitted by Jan. 18, 2008 to: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. Attn.: Steven Dunn. For more information contact Steven Dunn at (608) 267-0566.
Meetings
January 8 - The Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming – Technical Advisory Group will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 713 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison. For more information, or if you need special accommodations to attend this meeting, contact Caroline Garber, DNR, at (608) 264-9218 or caroline.garber@wisconsin.gov.
January 10 - The Green Tier advisors will meet by conference originating from the call State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. to go through Legislation Recommendation materials. These materials reflect discussions with the Advisors at the Dec. 6, 2007 meeting and subsequent to that meeting. For more information or to participate, contact Mark McDermid at - (608) 267-3125.
January 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 & 17 – Public information meetings on a proposal to slow the spread of invasive species into Wisconsin will be held around the state. The proposal classifies invasive species of plants, animals and nonagricultural plant pests into four different categories, two of which would be regulated and two which would not. The two regulated categories – prohibited and restricted – would make it illegal to import and export these species, buy, plant or release them. The informational meetings will offer a chance for the broader public to learn more about the classification system proposal, developed to reflect the recommendations of the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species. These public input sessions are also aimed at providing the DNR with feedback to help further shape the proposal before it seeks permission from its policymaking board to conduct formal public hearings. For information contact Tom Boos (608) 266-9276 or Kelly Kearns (608) 267-5066. The meetings will all begin at 5:30 p.m. on the following dates at the locations listed:
January 10, Spooner - at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station, W6646 Hwy 70.
January 11, Rhinelander - (Listening Session Also From 2-4 p.m.), Learning Resources Center Theater, Nicolet College, 5364 College Dr.
January 14, Madison - UW Arboretum, McKay Center Auditorium, 1207 Seminole Highway.
January 15, Milwaukee - Governor's Room, Tommy Thompson Youth Center (Gate 5) Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 South 84th St.
January 16, Green Bay - Brown Co. Central Library, 515 Pine St.
January 17, La Crosse - La Crosse Central High School, Commons (Room 126), 1801 Losey S. Blvd.
January 11 - The Natural Areas Preservation Council will meet at 9 a.m. in room 605 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster St., Madison. The council will discuss matters related to the protection and management of Wisconsin State Natural Areas. Contact: Thomas Meyer at (608) 266-0394.
January 12- The Chronic Wasting Disease Stakeholder Advisory group will meet from 8a.m. - 8p.m. in the Gathering Waters and Glacier's Edge conference rooms at the DNR South Central Region Headquarters, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg. The group will continue to draft recommendations for strategies to manage CWD. For more information, contact Alan Crossley, DNR CWD project manager, at (608) 266-5463 or Alan.Crossley@Wisconsin.gov.
January 14, 2008- The Karner blue butterfly habitat conservation plan – Implementation Oversight Committee will have a conference call meeting from 9 am to 12 pm in Room 428 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison. The agenda includes a discussion of the winter partnership meeting, outreach and education, and training development. For more information, or if you need special accommodations to attend this meeting, contact Matt Krumenauer, DNR, at (608) 267-9680 or matt.krumenauer@wisconsin.gov
January 15 - The Accumulated Sediment Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will meet from 9 a.m. to 1 .p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room of the Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) building, 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison. The TAC will discuss draft rule language to support the proposed self implementing, risk based approach to sediment management; further discus appropriate sampling, recordkeeping and when targeted use of DNR staff would be needed. For more information contact Tom Portle at (608) 267-0877.
January 16 – The DNR PM2.5 Workgroup will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 713 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss implementation of the PM2.5 rule including compliance demonstration, emission factors, modeling and NSR implementation. For information contact Gail Good at (608) 267-0803.
January 23 - The first public meeting for the Lower Fox River and Green Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) will be held in the Board Room at the Grand Chute Town Hall in Grand Chute. There will be two available sessions to attend: 2:30 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m.. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the TMDL development process and proposed water quality targets for the Lower Fox River and Green Bay TMDL. There will be a short formal presentation, followed by an open house for people to ask questions. The public will have 30 days following the meeting to comment on the scope of work and water quality targets being considered for the TMDL. For more information, please contact Nicki Richmond at (608)-266-0152 or nicole.richmond@wisconsin.gov.
January 23 - The DNR Migratory Game Bird Committee will be having a meeting from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Comfort Suites Hotel, N5780 Kinney Road, Hwy 78 South, Portage. The group will discuss mourning dove management and wetlands management, among other topics. For more information, please contact Kim Benton, DNR Assistant Migratory Game Bird Ecologist, at (608) 261-6458.
January 23 – Milwaukee River Revitalization Council Meeting 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Mequon Nature Preserve, Mequon. Agenda includes: Milwaukee Regional Partnership Initiative/MRRC Cooperation; Kinnickinnic River Remediation Projects, & Kinnickinnic River Sediment Cleanup. For more information, contact Matthew Aho at (414)-263-8586.
