Rule-Making Notices (Hearing Notices)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 227.11 (2) (a) and 281.15, Stats., interpreting ss. 281.11 and 281.15, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to ss. NR 102.10 and 102.11, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to listing additional waters as Outstanding or Exceptional Resource Waters. Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters (O/ERW) are waters which are characterized as being valuable or unique from various standpoints including fisheries, hydrology, geology and recreation.

In August 2004 the Department received a petition from various conservation organizations requesting that the Department designate 100 water segments as Outstanding or Exceptional. Department staff have evaluated available information pertaining to the segments in question, and recommend that 30 segments be added to the existing list of Outstanding Resource Waters in s. NR 102.10 and 12 segments be added as Exceptional Resource Waters in s. NR 102.11. The waters are located in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn counties.

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. The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at
[e-mail] or by calling [phone].

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.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department will hold a public information session for one-half hour prior to each hearing. Department staff will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed rule.

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

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn Express

668 W. Kemp Street

Rhinelander

Thursday, January 5, 2006 at 1:30 p.m.

Room G09, GEF #2

101 South Webster Street

Madison

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.

Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center

29270 County Highway G

Ashland

Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.

Gov. Tommy Thompson Hatchery

951 W. Maple Street

Spooner

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of information material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Ms. Laura Bub at [phone] with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

Fiscal Estimate

There is no expected fiscal effect at the state or local level.

The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site: adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Ms. Laura Bub, Bureau of Watershed Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until January 31, 2006. 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. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Ms. Bub.