March 13, 2007
Federal delisting of wolf transfers management to state
Peshtigo River State Forest master plan proposed
Studies examine impact of ‘culling’ on fishing tournaments in Wisconsin
Manure management rules adopted
Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshops offered
Burn leftover firewood to help avoid spreading tree pests
Meeting set on sustainable management of state forests
Federal delisting of wolf transfers management to state
MADISON – Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Hassett joined officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a wolf spotting flight from Siren to Ashland Monday, March 12. At a press conference at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College in Ashland following the flight, Hassett discussed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s removal of the gray wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species and the transfer of wolf management in Wisconsin to a state management plan.
“Today celebrates the decades of partnership, hard work and dedication shown by the partners, organizations and individuals that made this event possible,” Hassett said. “Perhaps more than any other mammal, the wolf symbolizes the wild and the free. The wolves we saw from the air today don’t know that they are special or different in any way from their ancestors who were removed from Wisconsin by bounty hunting and trapping earlier in the past century.”
The press conference and flight recognized the success of gray wolf recovery in Wisconsin under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since the gray wolf was first listed under the ESA in 1974, recovery programs have helped wolf populations rebound. Unregulated shooting and trapping, encouraged by a legislative state bounty, resulted in the extirpation of the wolf in Wisconsin by 1960. Wolves reentered the state on their own from Minnesota in the mid-1970s.
A late winter 2005-2006 estimate puts Wisconsin’s gray wolf population at 465-502. This includes an estimated 16 to 17 wolves on Indian reservations for an estimated 449-485 outside of reservations. Wisconsin’s Wolf Management Plan calls for a population of 350 wolves outside of Indian reservations.
The final rule to delist the wolf in Wisconsin was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 8. The rule became effective March 12. The Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan guides wolf management actions in the state. Protecting wolves, controlling problem animals, consideration of hunting and trapping, as well as maintaining the long-term health of the wolf population will be governed by the state or appropriate tribe.
“Like our neighbor states, we have a management plan, forged in partnership with the citizens of Wisconsin, the tribal nations within our borders, scientists, wildlife managers and many, many stakeholder groups,” Hassett said. “It is a good plan. It is a framework for the existence and management of the wolf in Wisconsin and at the same time provides landowners protections and recourse for verified wolf depredations.”
Key to Wisconsin’s wolf management efforts is the ability of the state to remove depredating wolves from the landscape and for landowners to protect their livestock and pets. Wisconsin’s management plan provides for both. The plan also sets stepped levels of tolerance for wolves on the land based on geography and population.
“The Department of Natural Resources, on behalf of the citizens of the state, accepts the responsibility to manage the gray wolf--and we will do this with respect to the citizens of the state and the wolf itself,” Hassett said. “Our goal is to maintain a self-sustaining population of gray wolves in Wisconsin and address human-wolf conflicts quickly.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrian Wydeven - (715) 762-1363 or Bob Manwell -(608) 264-9248
Draft plan proposed for managing new Peshtigo River State Forest
Comments sought on Draft Master Plan & Environmental Assessment
GREEN BAY – Additional day-use recreation areas, horse trails, traditional camping as well as campground for horseback riders, swimming beaches, and improved boat access to Caldron Falls Reservoir, High Falls Reservoir, Potato Rapids Reservoir, and the Peshtigo River are being considered for Wisconsin’s newest state forest.
They are proposals in the Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment for the 9,200-acres Peshtigo River State Forest in Marinette County. Also included are proposals to maintain existing motorized recreation trails and evaluate establishing all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails to provide connector links to existing regional ATV networks.
Three Forest Production Management Areas and five Native Community Management Areas, of which three would be designated State Natural Areas, would be created. Other than the new boat and swimming access, shorelines would be kept in a predominately natural condition.
Established in 2001, the Peshtigo River State Forest is Wisconsin's newest state forest and includes 25 miles of river and 3,200 acres of water in three reservoirs. It was purchased from the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation with funds from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. Gov. Jim Doyle has called for reauthorization of the Stewardship Fund to assure properties like the Peshtigo River State Forest can be preserved for future generations.
Master plans determine how a property is to be managed, including recreational uses, forestry practices, and other land management activities. The Department of Natural Resources has developed the management proposals based upon input from earlier public meetings, correspondence, phone calls, and discussions with the public.
Copies of the draft Peshtigo River State Forest Master Plan are available on the master planning pages of the DNR Web site or may be requested by contacting Dan Mertz at (920) 757-3965.
The public will have an opportunity to review the plan and maps of the forest, speak with DNR resource specialists and planners involved in writing the plan, and submit comments at two upcoming public meetings:
• March 20, Green Bay - 4 p.m. at the DNR Northeast Region Service Center, 2984 Shawano Ave.
• March 21, Crivitz - 4 p.m. at the Town of Stephenson Town Hall, W11280 County Highway X.
The Draft Master Plan is also an Environmental Assessment under the provisions of NR 150 Wis. Admin. Code. Therefore, an Environmental Assessment public comment period will be conducted concurrently with the Draft Master Plan comment period and a log of comments will be kept. The preliminary determination of the Environmental Assessment is that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The department does not anticipate that this proposal will result in significant environmental effects.
Written comments may be sent to Dan Mertz, Forest Superintendent, N10008 Paust Lane, Crivitz, WI 54114 or via e-mail: Dan.Mertz@wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the Environmental Assessment and Draft Master Plan must be received by April 27, 2007 in order to be considered in the final plan review.
After incorporating comments from these meetings, the Draft Master Plan will be presented to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board for approval at its September 2007 meeting. The approved plan will guide the forest’s future management, development and operation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Mertz – (920) 757-3965
Studies examine impact of ‘culling’ on fishing tournaments in Wisconsin
MADISON – Bass fishing tournaments in which participants are allowed to “cull,” or sort fish, have a minimal effect on fish survival when water temperatures are low but can be a concern when water temperatures are warm, according to a recently released report on the impacts of such tournaments in Wisconsin.
Less than 1 percent of bass caught during tournaments when water temperatures were low died in the live well or later after the fish was released, but that mortality rate climbed to 15.6 percent for largemouth bass and 33.9 percent for smallmouth bass when water temperatures were above 80 degrees, according to the report, which details results from separate studies the Department of Natural Resources commissioned to meet a lawmaker’s request.
Other key findings are that:
• Bass tournaments can boost the host community’s economy, particularly if the contest attracts out-of -state participants and spectators, but the additional economic boost of allowing tournaments that cull was small and it isn’t clear that allowing culling will attract a lot of new tournaments.
• A majority of anglers are opposed to culling for bass tournament participants and that attitude is driven by perceived impacts of culling. If tournament participants do not need to follow live well standards, 85 percent of sport anglers are opposed to culling; that opposition drops to 51 percent if participants are required to have live wells that meet minimum standards.
“The studies confirmed much of what we had seen from other states and what we expected here in Wisconsin,” says Mike Staggs, Department of Natural Resources fisheries management director. “The most significant result is that regardless of the measures tournament organizers have taken to date to keep fish alive, some bass do suffer delayed mortality particularly when water temperatures are high.”
Staggs says the most surprising result was that nearly 1 in 5 of Wisconsin anglers surveyed said they participated in fishing tournaments – “that was higher than most people thought.”
Wisconsin law does not allow culling by any anglers but lawmakers in 2004 established a pilot program in which four tournaments each in 2005 and 2006 were authorized to allow their participants to cull fish. Culling involves tournament anglers replacing smaller fish with bigger fish in live wells, and continuing to fish once they reach their daily limit. The pilot program responded to contentions by some bass anglers and tournament sponsors that big-time bass tournaments skipped Wisconsin because of the state’s culling rules.
Lawmakers required the DNR to evaluate the pilot program’s impact on fish, the economy, and other anglers and boaters and report back to the Legislature. The agency contracted with the Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to conduct research to estimate tournament and culling mortality; with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Regional and Urban Planning to estimate economic impacts from the tournaments, and had DNR research staff survey anglers and boaters, property owners and tournament anglers to learn their attitudes about tournaments and how they felt they were or were not impacted by tournaments.
The study looked at the three tournaments that participated in the pilot program in 2005 and four in 2006; a fourth tournament picked for 2005 was cancelled when its primary sponsor pulled out. Of the seven events, three were new to Wisconsin: the ESPN/BASS Bassmaster Elite 50, which brought 50 top bass anglers from across the United States to Lake Wissota in Chippewa County; the FLW Everstart Event on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, which featured 200 anglers from throughout the Midwest; and the FLW Stren Series in 2006. The first two tournaments did not seek to return to Wisconsin in 2006 for a culling permit.
Staggs said the full report will be presented to the state Natural Resources Board, the DNR’s policy making board, in April, along with a summary of comments gathered in November and December during public hearings and a public comment period on proposed tournament fishing rules. The proposed rules would define when tournaments need permits and could limit the number, size and frequency of tournaments held on a particular water based on size. They also address problems such as crowding at boat ramps and concerns over fish dying after being caught and released.
No final decision has been made on any changes to the proposed rules to reflect the public comments nor the final study and report results, he says.
The full report on the pilot program, including appendices containing each of the individual study reports, can be found on the DNR Web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Staggs (608) 267-0796; Steve Hewett (608) 267-7501
Manure management rules adopted
Largest 160 livestock farms will be affected
MADISON – Changes to regulations governing manure management on Wisconsin’s 160 largest farms that go into effect this spring are expected to help safeguard drinking water, protect good fishing and level the playing field for large livestock operations, state water quality officials say.
The changes, which were adopted by the state Natural Resources Board in January 2007, cleared their last round of legislative review last week, allowing them to go into effect in May. The changes update Department of Natural Resources water quality protection requirements for large livestock farms so they reflect federal requirements and, in particular, seek to decrease winter manure runoff that has contaminated wells, killed fish and polluted streams in past years.
“We’re gratified that these important rules are now on the books and that lawmakers, farmers, environmentalists, and other citizens joined with us to get a rule that works for Wisconsin livestock operations and protects our valuable water resources,” says DNR Secretary Scott Hassett.
While the revisions to Natural Resources Chapter 243 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code pertain to only one-half of 1 percent of Wisconsin’s 30,000 livestock farms, those farms account for 11 percent of the animals on farms in the state. These large farms are already required to get a state water quality protection permit because they have at least 1,000 animal units, which classifies them as a pollution point source facility needing a Federal Clean Water Act permit. One thousand animal units equals 700 milking cows, 1,000 beef steers or 55,000 turkeys.
“The changes to NR 243 will also help ensure more consistent regulation of large-scale operations and more clearly define what is expected from operations that need DNR water protection permits,” says Gordon Stevenson, who leads DNR’s runoff management section.
Many of these large farms, referred to as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs, already follow some of the practices called for by the rule changes; 90 percent already have the capacity to store liquid manure for six months. Getting the rules in place assures all large farms have enough storage capacity and follow best management practices to help protect against manure running into groundwater, lakes and rivers. The sheer volume of manure these farms manage – each produces at least a much organic pollution as a city of 18,000 people – greatly increases the potential that improperly handled manure could cause water quality problems.
Another key provision affecting CAFOS prohibits spreading liquid manure on frozen or snow-covered ground unless it's injected or immediately incorporated into the soil. Solid manure spreading is prohibited on frozen or snow-covered ground during February and March unless immediately incorporated.
The rule changes were developed by DNR with an advisory committee and originally approved by the Natural Resources Board in May 2006. Review and input by the Assembly and Senate agriculture committees led to some changes that were ultimately crafted with input from the agriculture and environmental communities. Working together, these groups identified where changes could be made without compromising water quality protection.
“The bottom line is that we all want clean water and we need a thriving agricultural industry in this state,” says Russ Rasmussen, director of the DNR Bureau of Watershed Management. “The revisions to NR 243 are an important step in achieving these goals.”
More information on the rule changes are available on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/nps/rules/nr243/nr243.htm].
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Stevenson - (608) 267-2759
Counties starting to offer Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshops
Expansion a boost to education efforts at boat landings
RHINELANDER, Wis. – People who want to play a direct role in preventing zebra mussels, Eurasian water-milfoil and other aquatic invasive species from spreading to their favorite lake or river can get the training and materials they need closer to home this year.
The Clean Boats, Clean Waters program the state has offered for the last four years to train new volunteer watercraft inspectors is increasingly going local. While 10 training sessions already have been set up for spring and summer 2006, a growing number of counties and nonprofit organizations plan to offer the training and materials as well.
The added sessions will make it easier and more convenient than ever for interested citizens to get involved in the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program and help educate boaters how to clean their boats of aquatic invasive plants and animals to avoid accidentally spreading them, says Laura Felda-Marquardt, who coordinates the training program for the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
“More people are aware of the need to get involved in stopping the spread of invasive species and the growing interest of counties and local organizations can help make that happen,” she says.
“County staff can zero in on local opportunities. We’ll support the counties by providing them with the speakers and materials to give to the volunteers.”
A growing number of counties have aquatic invasive species coordinators and pay for people to monitor boat launches and educate boaters, with most of these efforts paid for through DNR grants. Other counties have their land and water conservation departments provide the training. Nonprofit organizations, like the Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek, are also starting to offer the training with help from DNR grants.
Ron Martin, who coordinates DNR’s aquatic invasive species management efforts, says the expanding interest will be a big boost in helping prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to new waters.
“The one-on-one education that watercraft inspectors provide is the best way to change boater behavior,” he says. “Volunteers put in a lot of hours and talk to a lot of boaters and their efforts get boaters’ attention.”
The state has 25 seasonal watercraft inspectors, some work for DNR and others for UW Sea Grant, the National Park Service or UW-Oshkosh, but all focus on educating boaters at lakes and rivers where Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels are well established to help prevent boaters from leaving the launches with invasive plants attached to their boats or in their bait buckets.
Volunteer watercraft inspectors and the county monitors, however, many of whom are lake association members, tend to focus their education efforts on lakes not known to have Eurasian water-milfoil or zebra mussels. Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels are present in less than 2 percent of the state’s 15,000 lakes and 44,000 miles of perennially flowing rivers, but they are spreading in northern Wisconsin.
Altogether, volunteers, county monitors and state watercraft inspectors inspected more than 34,000 boats and contacted nearly 76,000 boaters in 2006.
State-sponsored workshops are set for Wild Rose, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Rhinelander, Poy Sippi, Eau Claire, Minocqua, Eagle River, Three Lakes and Cumberland. Sessions are also planned in Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Door, Florence, Jefferson, Lincoln, Oneida, Polk, Portage, Sawyer, Vilas, Washburn, Waukesha, and Winnebago counties.
For more details about each of these training sessions, and a list of county contacts, online at [www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCW].
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Felda-Marquardt (715) 365-2659
Burn leftover firewood to help avoid spreading tree pests and diseases
MADISON -- Spring is almost here in Wisconsin and state forestry officials are urging home and cabin owners who have a small amount of wood left from this winter to burn it up by April 1. This is especially important if you don’t know where the wood is from, or it was transported more than 50 miles to your home.
“Firewood can harbor pests and diseases that emerge when the weather warms in April,” says Andrea Diss-Torrance, Forest Health Specialist at the Department of Natural Resources. “If you have less than a half cord, consider burning it now to avoid introducing pests or diseases to your yard trees.” A half-cord of firewood measures 4 feet high, 4 feet long and 16 inches wide.
A number of invasive pests and diseases are moving on firewood in Great Lakes states. They lie dormant while temperatures are low, but emerge in spring to attack trees.
Emerald ash borer, oak wilt and gypsy moth, among others, have been transported to new areas on firewood by unsuspecting homeowners, Diss-Torrance says. Oak wilt and gypsy moth are present in parts of Wisconsin, while emerald ash borer has not yet been found here but has been found in the Chicago area.
“You can avoid introducing new pests to your property by buying your firewood near where you will use it,” she says.
Homeowners who heat with wood and thus have more of it stored won’t have the option of burning up wood before early spring since the heating season doesn’t end until late May in Wisconsin.
“For people with larger amounts of firewood (more than the amounts mentioned above), it is especially important to obtain your wood locally to avoid bringing in insects or diseases,” Diss-Torrance recommends. “Next time you buy or cut, get wood from within 50 miles and you will be doing a lot to protect your trees from foreign pests and diseases.”
More information on invasive tree pests, diseases, and the role of firewood is available at: [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/forestry/fh/].
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Diss-Torrance –
Meeting set on how to measure sustainable management of state forests
MADISON – The public will have an opportunity to comment and offer suggestions to a state advisory committee on how Wisconsin can measure progress toward ensuring the state’s forests are managed in a sustainable fashion at a series of upcoming meetings or on-line through a new Web page.
Wisconsin’s Statewide Forest Plan, adopted by the state Natural Resources Board in 2004, calls for developing a framework for evaluating sustainable forest management efforts. Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“The goal of Wisconsin’s Statewide Forest Plan is to manage forests sustainably, but that’s a very difficult goal to evaluate,” said Fred Souba, chair of the Wisconsin Council on Forestry. “Wisconsin is just one of many states and regions trying to measure forest sustainability. I’m confident the advisory committee we have brought together will provide us with a sound recommendation.”
Wisconsin’s Statewide Forest Plan describes five goals for Wisconsin forests:
• forests should be: healthy and protected;
• provide a diversity of plant and animals species and habitats;
• produce a steady flow of raw materials for consumers and the economy;
• are conserved and managed with sound stewardship practices; and
• provide multiple recreational opportunities.
“The challenge before the advisory committee is to identify criteria and indicators for measuring these goals in Wisconsin,” said Paul DeLong, administrator of the DNR Division of Forestry and Wisconsin State Forester.
Wisconsin Council on Forestry advisory committee for a Wisconsin Forestry Sustainability Framework will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 14, April 18 and May 23, at the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison.
The 20 states making up the U.S. Forest Service’s Northeastern Area have agreed upon a common set of 18 indicators that are being shared across state lines leading to a larger regional picture of forest sustainability. Wisconsin is part of the Northeastern Area and has committed to that endeavor.
Wisconsin Council on Forestry Web site now available
The Wisconsin Council on Forestry has added Wisconsin’s Forest Sustainability Framework as an initiative on its Web site [http://council.wisconsinforestry.org], from which people can keep up to date on the Advisory Committee meetings, learn more about the specific criteria and indicator framework, and provide your comments and suggestions about the framework.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Mulhern - (608) 266-2694
OUTDOORS CALENDAR
*Indicates date remains the same each year, except some permit deadlines may be extended one day if they fall on a Sunday or Federal Holiday.
March 15
• Ice fishing shelters must be removed from Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, inland lakes north of Highway 64, and Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.*
• Yellow perch season closes on Green Bay and its tributary streams and the Fox River from the mouth up to the De Pere Dam.*
• Beaver trapping season closes in the Mississippi River zone.
March 20
• Winter crow season closes.*
March 23
• Remaining permits not issued through the spring turkey permit drawing will be available for sale on a first-come, first served basis through license sales outlets, and DNR service centers. In addition, licenses can be purchased on line through the DNR Web site or by phone at 1-877-945-4236.beginning at noon. A complete list of units with the number of permits is available on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/springturkey/index.html].
March 31
• Hunting, fishing, sports, and conservation patron licenses expire.*
• Otter trapping season closes in central and southern zone.
• Trout season opens on designated sections of some Lake Superior tributaries. See the current Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide for more information.
April 7 – 8
• Youth turkey hunt.
April 11 – 15
• Spring turkey hunting period A
April 15 through July 31
• It is illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal Waterfowl Production Areas lands during this time unless the dog is on a leash no longer than 8 feet. Doe not apply to class 1 field trial grounds or DNR lands open to dog training.*
April 16
• Spring Fish and Wildlife Rules Hearings and Conservation Congress county meetings held in every county.
April 18 – 22
• Spring turkey hunting period B
April 25 – 29
• Spring turkey hunting period C
April 28
• Frog season opens. Runs through Dec. 31
April 29
• Early catch-and-release only trout season closes at midnight. Season is artificial bait, barbless-hook only.
• Otter trapping season closes in the North zone.*
April 30
• The yellow perch season closes on Lake Michigan and tributaries. The season reopens June 16.*
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
March 13, 15 – The Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearings on the creation of ch. NR 433 and § NR 484.04(11m) Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the best available retrofit technology (BART) requirements for visibility protection. The department is proposing a rule to address BART related State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions which are required by the federal regional haze rule. The Federal regulations require all states, including Wisconsin, to develop State Implementation Plans to address visibility impairment in mandatory Class I Federal Areas (Class I Areas) by December 2007. One of the provisions of the federal regulations is the application of BART requirements to major stationary sources that meet certain criteria relating to amount and type of emissions, installation date and source category. The proposed rule requires that the affected facilities perform an engineering analysis for the BART determination which shall be based on an analysis of the best systems of continuous emission control technology available and associated emission reductions achievable for each source subject to BART. This analysis is to be performed on a source-by-source basis taking into account the criteria provided by the federal regulation. The net effect of the proposed rule would be to examine potential emission control technologies for SO2, NOx and particulate matter from approximately 10 power plants and 4 pulp and paper mills that meet the criteria in the federal regulations and to determine BART for those emission sources. 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. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate may be reviewed and downloaded and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. (Search this Web site using the Natural Resources Board Order No. AM-04-06.) Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Farrokh Ghoreishi, Bureau of Air Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by e-mail to Ghoreishi at Farrokh.Ghoreishi@wisconsin.gov. Comments may be submitted until March 19, 2007. 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 be obtained from Robert Eckdale, Bureau of Air Management at (608) 266-2856.The hearings will be held:
March 13, Wausau – 1 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library, Wausau Room, 300 N. First St.
March 15, Milwaukee – 1 p.m. Room 140-141, DNR Southeast Region Headquarters, 2300 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
March 14 - The Department of Natural Resources will conduct a Public Informational Hearing regarding an application from Riverboat Lofts, LLC, P.O. Box 892, Milwaukee, WI 53201 for a permit to place a two transient slips on the bed, temporary structures and minor dredging associated with construct a seawall on the shoreline of Milwaukee River. The hearing will be at 5 p.m. at the DNR Headquarters Building, 2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee. For more information, contact Jennifer Jerich at (262) 884-2356.
March 15 – The Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the creation of §§ NR 428.20 to 428.28, Wis. Adm. Code, and amendments to §§ NR 428.04(2)(h) and 428.05(3)(e) and 484.04, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the establishment of rules for reasonable available control technology (RACT) emission requirements for major sources of NOx emissions in the southeast 8-hour ozone nonatttainment counties of Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan. he hearing will be held at 2 p.m. in Room 140-141, DNR Southeast Region Headquarters, 2300 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Milwaukee. In June 2004, the US EPA designated the Wisconsin counties addressed by the rule as "moderate" nonattainment areas for the 8-hour ozone ambient air quality standard. The designation triggered federal Clean Air Act requirements for implementation of “reasonably available control technology” (RACT) for major stationary sources of NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOC) by May 1, 2009. The Department is proposing this rule package to meet the RACT requirement for major sources of NOx emissions. The department previously adopted RACT rules for VOC sources to address the previous 1-hour ozone standard. The proposed rule affects facilities with the potential to emit 100 tons or more of NOx per year in the moderate ozone nonattainment areas. However, the emission requirements apply to individual emission units, such as a boiler or furnace, at the affected facilities. It is possible that an emission unit contributing to a major source's potential to emit may not be subject to a RACT requirement. Likewise, an emission unit identified by a RACT source category, but at a facility with a potential to emit less than 100 tons per year, will not be subject to a RACT requirement. The emission requirements proposed in the rule consist of NOx emission limitations and combustion tuning requirements applicable on a year-round basis. The emission limitations are established by source categories with an emission unit size threshold based on available control technologies and cost-effectiveness. Combustion tuning requirements apply to the emission units subject to emission limitations, as well as to smaller emission units. The emission limit and combustion tuning requirements are established based on a cost-effectiveness of $2,500 or less per ton of controlled NOx emissions. The rule contains exemptions from both RACT requirements for certain types of emission units demonstrating low operating levels during the ozone season. An additional exemption recognizes that the NOx emissions of certain smaller emission units are already well controlled under existing ch. NR 428 provisions and no further action is cost-effective in meeting a NOx RACT emission limit. The proposed rule contains several provisions to address technical issues and provide compliance flexibility. The rule proposes a specific phased schedule applicable to large coal boilers owned or operated by electric utilities in order to maintain electric reliability, with final compliance by May 1, 2013. For compliance flexibility, the rule allows facility-wide and multi-facility emission averaging between emission units at the affected facilities. An affected entity may also request an alternate RACT requirement for an emission unit based on a technical and economic demonstration. 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. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate may be reviewed and downloaded and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. (Search this Web site using the Natural Resources Board Order No. AM-17-05.) Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Tom Karman, DNR Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by e-mail to Karman at Thomas.Karman@wisconsin.gov. Comments may be submitted until March 19, 2007. 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 be obtained from Robert Eckdale, Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by calling (608) 266-2856.
March 21 – A public hearing on the creation of § NR 45.075, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to declaring natural emergencies on forested lands owned by the state and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources will be held at 1 p.m. via video conference. Section 23.114, Wis. Stats., directs the department to implement a rule pertaining to the chief state forester’s authority to specify emergencies on forested lands under the jurisdiction of the department. The proposed rule describes causes of unforeseen damage or threat of damage to trees that could lead the chief state forester to declare an emergency on forested lands under department jurisdiction and take management authority. Included in the list of damaging agents that could lead to the declaration of an emergency are those required by the legislature: invasive species, pest infestation, disease and damage to timber from fire, snow, hail, ice or wind. The rule states that when declaring and responding to an emergency, the chief state forester shall consider the purpose and management plan for the affected property in his or her decisions. This rule, however, would allow the chief state forester to take actions not described in the management plan for a property if that was the most appropriate response to the emergency. Finally, this rule describes the processes by which the declaration of the state of emergency shall be made effective, canceled or modified. 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. However, based on the comments received, the department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site [http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov/]. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Andrea Diss-Torrance, DNR Division of Forestry, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until (NOTE: Comment period extended) May 30, 2007. 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 Diss-Torrance at - (608) 264-9247. Video conference participation will be available at:
Eau Claire - Room 138, State Office Building, 718 W. Clairemont Ave.
Madison - Room G11, GEF #2 Office Building, 101 South Webster St.
Rhinelander - Conference Room 3, DNR Regional Office, 107 Sutliff Ave.
March 21 – The Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing via video conference at 1 p.m. on the amendment of § NR 1.212(3)(a), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to referral of private timber sale requests to cooperating foresters. The proposed rule revision would require referral of all timber sale requests from private landowners to cooperating foresters. DNR foresters would not provide timber harvest set-up assistance to private landowners, regardless of the size of the forest tract, unless help is not reasonably available from private enterprise cooperators. The revision also drops redundant language about refusals from cooperators to provide service. The proposed rules may have an impact on small businesses, including private consulting forestry firms and landowners who operate their woodlands as a small business. 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. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site [http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov/]. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Paul Pingrey, DNR Division of Forestry, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 30, 2007. 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 Paul Pingrey at - (608) 267-7595. Video conference participation will be available at 1 p.m. at:
Eau Claire - Room 138, State Office Building, 718 W. Clairemont Ave.
Madison - Room G11, GEF #2 Office Building, 101 South Webster St.
Rhinelander - Conference Room 3, DNR Regional Office, 107 Sutliff Ave.
March 21 – The Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing via video conference at 1 p.m. on the amendment of § NR 1.21(2)(e), Wis. Adm. Code, and the creation of § NR 1.26, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to contracting for timber sale establishment services on state land. Section 28.025, Wis. Stats., created by 2005 Wisconsin Act 166, directs the Department to establish an annual allowable timber harvest for state forest lands. The Act instructs the Department to develop a timber sale contracting program with private “cooperating foresters” for assistance in meeting the allowable harvest goals. Proposed s. NR 1.26 would identify timber sale related tasks that could be contracted and a method for calculating the portion of timber sale revenue that would pay for the services. The proposed rule distinguishes between timber sale related tasks that can be contracted and functions that Department staff must perform to protect the resource and assure compliance with regulations and property master plans. The purpose is to divide technical activities that are appropriate for contracting from administration of finance, policy and compliance issues. The rule defines bidding and payment procedures for the contracted services, including prequalification of bidders based on experience with timber sales and related forest inventory work. Section NR 1.21(2)(e) would also be revised to make the educational requirements for cooperating foresters consistent with those for Department foresters under s. 28.045(1), Stats. The proposed rules may have an impact on small businesses, such as private consulting forestry firms that will have the opportunity to add positions and expand into providing more services on state-owned land. The revised educational requirement would clarify that the Chief State Forester can identify college training that is equivalent to accreditation by the Society of American Foresters. DNR staff 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. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. Natural Resources Board Emergency Order No. FR-01-07(E) relating to contracting for timber sale establishment services on state land took effect on February 6, 2007. 2005 Wisconsin Act 166 provides that the rules shall be initially adopted through the emergency rule process followed by promulgation of the permanent rule. The Act also provides the emergency rule shall not lapse prior to promulgation of the permanent rule and required no finding of emergency. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site [http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov/]. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Paul Pingrey, DNR Division of Forestry, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 30, 2007. 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 Paul Pingrey at - (608) 267-7595. Video conference participation will be available at 1 p.m. at:
Eau Claire - Room 138, State Office Building, 718 W. Clairemont Ave.
Madison - Room G11, GEF #2 Office Building, 101 South Webster St.
Rhinelander - Conference Room 3, DNR Regional Office, 107 Sutliff Ave.
March 21 - A public hearing to receive public comments on the preliminary determination to approve a variance from the latest achievable emission rate (LAER) control requirements in § NR 445.07(1)(c) requested by Neenah Foundry Company for benzene emissions from a proposed new KW casting line project will be held at 11 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Neenah City Hall, 211 Walnut St., Neenah.. Neenah Foundry Company - (W2179), 2121 Brooks Ave., Neenah, Wisconsin, has submitted to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit applications (Air Pollution Construction and Operation Permit Nos. 06-POY-295 and 471033860-P05) including plans and specifications for a new KW casting line project. The DNR analyzed these materials and has preliminarily determined that the project should meet applicable criteria for permit approval as stated in § 285.63, Wis. Stats., including both the emission limits and the ambient air standards and should, therefore, be approved. If a decision is made by the DNR to issue an operation permit to this source, a proposed operation permit will be drafted and sent to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for a 45-day review period. Unless the US EPA objects in writing to the issuance of the permit as proposed within that 45-day period, the DNR will issue the final permit as proposed. Any person may petition the US EPA under 40 CFR Part 70.8(d) within 60 days after the expiration of the 45-day review period to make an objection to the operation permit. In addition, the DNR has prepared an Environmental Assessment in accordance with ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code and has made a preliminary determination that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required before a final decision is made on the proposed project. The DNR has determined that the proposed project will not cause significant adverse environmental effects. This preliminary determination does not constitute approval from the Air Management Program or any other DNR sections which may also require a review of the project. All comments received by the DNR at the public hearing and all written comments received by the DNR will be considered by the DNR prior to making a final decision regarding the proposed project. After the public hearing, a final decision will be made on whether to issue or deny the air pollution control construction permit. Fir a copy of the final determination, contact Paul O. Yeung at PO Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin 53707 or by telephone at (608) 266-0672. Information, including plans and the DNR’s preliminary analysis regarding this proposal, and the Environmental Assessment, is available for public inspection at the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Air Management Headquarters, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster, Madison; Oshkosh Service Center, 625 E. County Road Y Suite 700, Oshkosh; and at the Neenah Public Library, 240 E. Wisconsin Ave. P.O. Box 569, Neenah; or contact Paul Yeung, 608-266-0672. This information is also available for downloading from the Air Permit page of the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/permits/APM_toc.htm].
March 22 - The DNR will hold a public informational hearing on the application of the City of Madison for a permit to place a new storm water outfall on the bed of Lake Monona at Monona Bay under chapter 30, Stats. The purpose of the informational hearing is to allow the public to learn about the proposed outfall, and to provide an opportunity for the public to make a written or oral statement about issuance of the proposed permit. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in the Gathering Waters conference room of the DNR South Central Regional office at 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg. For more information, contact Cami Peterson at (608) 275-3208.
March 26 –A contested case hearing on the appeals of petitioners objecting to granting of a variance to Pheasant Run Refuse Disposal Facility for wells within 1,200 feet of a landfill in Paris Township, Kenosha County will be held at 9 a.m. in Room 202 of the Kenosha City Hall, 625 52nd St., Kenosha. The hearing will continue, if necessary, on Tuesday, March 27. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
Meetings
March 13 – The Wisconsin Council on Forestry will meet on at 9:30 a.m. at the Forest Products Lab on One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison. The status of forest certification and proposed woody biomass legislation are among the items included for discussion. For information contact Mary Brown at (608) 261-7599.
March 13 – An open house to discuss groundwater and other environmental concerns related to the nearby Badger Army Ammunition Plant (BAAP) will be held from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Gallery of the River Arts Center, 105 Ninth St., Prairie du Sac. DNR staff will discuss groundwater and other environmental-related issues at BAAP, while DHFS will focus on human health aspects of contamination in the local groundwater. U.S. Army and principle contractor, SpecPro, Inc., an Alaska-based firm responsible for facility operations, structure demolition, and environmental monitoring and clean-up at the sprawling 7,354-acre facility will address groundwater concerns, along with progress on building demolitions, clean-up and land transfer questions. For information contact Hank Kuehling, DNR Hydrogeologist, Fitchburg at (608) 275-3286.
March 14 – Wisconsin Council on Forestry advisory committee for a Wisconsin Forestry Sustainability Framework will meet from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison. The forest sustainability advisory committee to the Wisconsin Council on Forestry will meet for the purpose of developing recommendations to the Council on criteria for measuring forest sustainability in Wisconsin. The subcommittee will be selecting criteria in seven broad categories including: biological biodiversity; forest production; forest health; soil and water; global carbon; socioeconomic benefits; and legal and institutional criteria. Public input will be heard after Committee discussions of each criterion and at the end of the day or the public may provide comment to the advisory committee online at
http://council.wisconsinforestry.org/framework/. For information contact Robert Manwell at (608) 264-9248.
March 16 – The Awards Committee of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will convene at 7 p.m. at Country Springs Hotel, 1501 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The Committee will review and discuss issues concerning natural resources. For more information contact AnnMarie Kutzke, Conservation Congress Assistant, at (608) 266-2952.
March 20 & 21 - Public meetings will be held to gather comments on the Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment for the management of Peshtigo River State Forest. After incorporating comments, the Draft Master Plan will be presented to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board at its September 2007 meeting for approval. The approved plan will guide the forest’s future management, development, and operation. The public participated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in developing the management vision, goals and objectives for this property that includes over 9,200 acres of land in the Towns of Stephenson, Silver Cliff, and Porterfield in Marinette County. The Department has developed management proposals based upon input from earlier public meetings, correspondence, phone calls, and discussions with the public. The Draft Master Plan describes the existing property boundaries and recommends acquisition of additional land for resource protection. The Draft Master Plan also proposes adding day-use recreation, horse trails, traditional camping, swimming, equestrian camping, and improved boat access to Caldron Falls Reservoir, High Falls Reservoir, Potato Rapids Reservoir, and the Peshtigo River. Shorelines would otherwise be kept in a predominately natural condition. Recommended forest management includes establishing three Forest Production Management Areas and five Native Community Management Areas, of which three will also be designated as State Natural Areas. The Draft Master Plan calls for maintaining existing motorized recreation trails as well as conducting additional work to evaluate ATV trails that would provide connector links to existing regional networks. The preliminary determination of the Environmental Assessment is that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The Department does not anticipate that this proposal would result in significant environmental effects Maps of the forest will be on display, for use during discussions. Copies of the draft document may be requested by contacting Dan Mertz at (920) 757-3965. The master plan may also be viewed in its entirety on the DNR master planning Web site at: [http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/]. Written comments may be sent to: Dan Mertz, Forest Superintendent, N10008 Paust Lane, Crivitz, WI 54114 or via e-mail: Dan.Mertz@wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the Environmental Assessment and Draft Master Plan must be received by April 27, 2007 in order to be considered in the final plan review.. The meetings will be held:
March 20, Green Bay – 4 p.m. at the DNR Northeast Region Service Center, 2984 Shawano Ave.
March 21, Crivitz – 4 p.m. at the Town Hall of the Town of Stephenson, W11280 CTH X.
March 24 – The annual stakeholders meeting for the Governor Knowles State Forest will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Crex Meadows Visitor Center. Agenda topics will center on forest management activities from 2006 through 2007 including recreation, forestry, law enforcement, acquisition, invasives, and maintenance and development projects. The public is encouraged to attend and meet the state forest staff. The visitor center is at the junction of Cty Roads D and F north of the village of Grantsburg. For more information contact Dan Thill (715) 463-2898.
March 27-28 – The state Natural Resources Board will meet in Room G09, of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street Madison, to act on items as listed in the meeting agenda. For information contact Laurie J. Ross, Natural Resources Board Executive Staff Assistant at (608) 267-7420.
March 28 – The DNR Brownfields Study Group will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison. The meeting is free and open to the public. If you need more information about the meeting agenda, location or parking, please contact Andrew Savagian at (608) 261-6422, or [andrew.savagian@wisconsin.gov].
March 29 – The DNR Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest ATV Stakeholders group will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Reuland's Catering, 1571 Hwy. 51 North, Arbor Vitae to continue to evaluate sustainable use of ATVs on the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. For information contact: Bob Dall at (715) 365-8993 for details.
Wisconsin DNR News
Edited by Paul Holtan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
(608) 267-7517
Fax: (608) 264-6293
E-mail: paul.holtan@dnr.state.wi.us
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wonews.htm
