Rule-Making Notices (Hearing Notices)

Wildlife Management: The costs associated with the implementation of the new CWD deer herd control hunts including the testing and permit issuance during the extended season at registration stations will result in an additional staff time including the use of LTE's, as well as mileage and other equipment expenses.

3 LTE's x 20 hours/week = 60 hours x 10 pay periods = 600 hours x $11/hour = $6,600

10 hours of overtime / pay period x 14 (SER wildlife staff) = 140 hours x 10 pay periods = 1,400 hours x $28/hour (salary and fringe) = $39,200

Meals, mileage and other 1614 appropriations based on the first 14 weeks of CWD operation expenditures (~ $2,000 / wk): 20 weeks x $2,000 = $40,000

Parks and Recreation: Signage and maps will need to be produced for the 3 state park/state forest properties where expanded herd control measures will be in effect.

Supplies and Services: Printing or updating Maps, Signs, Permits and Instructions:

$500.00 for 3 properties which have previously been open to deer hunting ($500x 3) = $1,500

Supplies and Services: Vehicle Maintenance and Expenses for Increased Patrol & Sharpshooting

$1,000 per park x 3 = $3,000

Salaries and Fringes - $30 per hour: Determination of Hunting Boundaries, Preparing/Revising Maps and Signs, Posting Signs

16 hours 3 properties which have previously been open to deer hunting (16 x 3 x $30) = $1,440

Salaries and Fringes - $30 per hour: Distributing Permits, Law Enforcement, Admitting Hunters to Park and/or Documenting Permits

4 hours per park per day x $30 per hour x 3 properties x 38 days (based on the average number of days all 3 parks will be open to hunting) = $13,680

Anticipated grand total for hunting season implementation

Salary and Fringe:   $77,720

Materials and Expenses:   $48,729

New Eradication Zone Efforts: Deer registration staff time and resources will be required.

Registration Stations = 6 perm. employees x 20 additional hours/pay period x 4 pay periods = 480 x $28 / hour = $13,440 salary and fringe.

Meals, mileage and other 1614 appropriations based on last years CWD operation expenditures (~ $2,000 / wk): 11 weeks x $2,000 = $22,000

Anticipated grand total for eradication zone activities

Salary and Fringe:   $13,440

Materials and Expenses:   $22,000

B. Decreased Revenue Details:

There will be a loss in revenue stemming from the absence of bonus permit sales in the CWD zones and the potential issuance of free licenses to CWD eradication zone hunters.

Approximately 80% of bonus permits are sold to resident hunters with the remaining 20% sold to non-residents. Bonus permits cost $12 for residents and $20 for non-resident deer hunters.

Bonus permit sales from 2002-2003 were used to determine the average number of bonus permits sold in Deer Management Units (DMUs) 70G, 76A, 77B, and 77C.

70G – 796

76A – 5,791

77B – 2,311

77C – 2,258

Under the current proposal, DMUs 76A and 77C would be split. Accordingly, the number of bonus permits sold would have to be adjusted.

76A – 5,791/2 = 2,896

77C – 2,258/2 = 1,129

The total number of bonus permit sales lost would equate to the following.

796+2,896+2,311+1,129 = 7,132

Bonus Permit Sales Loss

7,132 x .8 = 5,706 x 12 = $68,472

7,132 x .2 = 1,426 x 20 = $28,520

$68,472+$28,520 = $96,992

Free Licenses to CWD Disease Eradication Zone Hunters

The fiscal impact of revenue loss from exempting hunters in CWD zones from having a license could be anywhere between $0 and $2,428,200, depending on how extensive the Department implemented the provision. For the entire herd reduction zone in southwest Wisconsin, the Department estimated the number of hunters in 12 deer management zones based on the average number of deer harvested from those zones for the years 1999 through 2001. The average annual number of hunters in those zones is estimated at a total of 109,000.The average deer hunter success rate from 1999-2001 was 44% The average number of deer harvested per year (47,900) divided by the average harvest success rate (44%) yields the approximate number of licensed hunters per year in the 12 management zones (109,000). Using the following methodology, the Department estimates the loss of revenue for exempting licenses for the entire herd reduction zone to be $2,428,200. Using the same methodology, but exempting licenses only for what is now called the intensive harvest zone would result in an estimated revenue loss of $376,400.

License sales from 1999-2001 were averaged to determine the approximate percentage of deer hunters under the authority of each license type as follows:

9.2% - Resident Patron; 10.0% - Resident Sports; 55.5% - Resident Gun Deer; 19.9% - Resident Archery; 4.5% - Non-resident Gun Deer; .9% - Non-resident Archery.

The total fiscal impact created by free landowner permits can then be calculated by determining the number of each license authority sold based on the 1999-2001 averages.

Resident Patron - For Resident Patron license holders, it is assumed that most patron license buyers would continue to buy the patron license for the other privileges included with the license. However, it is estimated that 5% would stop buying patron licenses and purchase small game and fishing licenses separate, at a loss of $107 per license holder. For this assumption, the Department would lose $53,878.
(109,000 licenses x .092% of license type = 10,071 patron licenses x 5% = 504 x $107 = $53,878)

Resident Sports - For Resident Sports license holders, it is assumed that 70% would discontinue buying the Sports license, and instead buy a small game license and a fishing license, at a revenue loss of $12 each to the Department. For this assumption, the Department would lose $9,096.
(109,000 x .10 = 10,855 Sports Licenses x 70% = 7,599 x $12 = $91,186)

For Resident Gun Deer, it is assumed that 90% of License holders in the 12 zones would not buy deer licenses. For this assumption the Department would lose $1,087,979. (109,000 x .55.5 = 60,443 x 90% = 54,399 licenses x $20 = $1,087,979)

For Resident Archery, it is assumed that 90% of license holders in the 12 zones would not buy deer licenses. For this assumption, the Department would lose $390,000. (109,000 x .19.9 = 21,667 licenses x 90% = 19,500 x $20 = $390,000)

For Non-resident Gun Deer, it is assumed that 100% of license holders would not buy deer licenses. For this assumption, the Department would lose $665,558. (109,000 x .045 = 4,930 licenses x $135 = $665,558)

For Non-resident Archery, it is assumed that 100% of license holders would not buy deer licenses. For this assumption, the Department would lose $117,720.
(109,000 x .009 = 1,034 licenses x $135 = $139,568)

Total Licensing Loss

$53,878 + $91,186 + $1,087,979 + $390,000 + $665,558 + $139,568 = $2,428,169

Caveats

1) People may have bought licenses even though it was not required.

2) Hunter numbers declined in this area after the discovery of CWD, but have shown rebounding trends.

3) The estimate is totally dependent on which areas are selected for exemption.

Total anticipated decreased revenue from loss of bonus permit sales and the issuance of free licenses in the CWD eradication zone (pending legislative approval) = $96,992 + $2,428,169 = $2,525,161.

Notice of Hearing

Natural Resources

(Fish, Game, etc., Chs. NR 1—)

[CR 04-014]

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 23.09 (26), 350.12 (4) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting ss. 23.09 (26) and 350.12 (4), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on revisions to s. NR 50.09 (4) and (5), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the snowmobile trail grant program. The proposed rule will change the color, shape and size of the directional arrow used in signing snowmobile trails. The proposed rule also changes the reference to the maximum per mile reimbursement from an old figure of $200 to that specified under current statute.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearing will be held on:

March 24, 2004     Room 1,
Wednesday     Portage Co. Courthouse Annex,
at 1:00 p.m.     1462 Strongs Avenue
    Stevens Point

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that 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 Larry Freidig at [phone] with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

Copies of Rule and Contact Person

Written comments on the proposed rules may be submitted to Mr. Larry Freidig, Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than March 26, 2004. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. A copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Freidig.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses.

Environmental Analysis

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has 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.

Fiscal Estimate

There is no fiscal impact for these rules.

Notice of Hearings

Natural Resources

(Environmental Protection-General,
Chs. NR 100—)

[CR 04-015]

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 292.75 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting s. 292.75, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on revisions to ch. NR 168, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the administration of the brownfield site assessment grant program.

Analysis Prepared by Dept. of Natural Resources

Since ch. NR 168 was promulgated in 2000, four rounds of grants have been issued. The proposed rule modifies ch. NR 168 with technical clarifications so that the rule language is consistent with statutory changes made after the rule took effect. The changes are meant to clarify grant guidelines and to address issues not considered during the initial draft of the rule. Other changes proposed are to revise the application scoring process so that more points are given to sites that are greater environmental and community priorities, with less emphasis on the financial contribution of the applicant.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearing will be held on:

March 16, 2004 Tuesday 9:00 a.m.	Video conference participation will be available at: Room 227 UW-Madison Pyle Center 702 Langdon Street Madison
	Room 98, State Office Building 819 N. 6th Street Milwaukee
	Room 618, State Office Building 200 N. Jefferson Street Green Bay
	Room 139, State Office Building 718 W. Clairemont Avenue Eau Claire

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that 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 Michael Prager at [phone] with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

Copies of Rule and Contact Person

Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Michael Prager, Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or faxed to [phone] no later than March 26, 2004. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. A copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Prager.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses.

Environmental Analysis

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has 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.

Fiscal Estimate