Hearing Date:
May 3, 10 and 17, 2007
4.
Rules adopted revising
chs. NR 19 and 20, relating to the control of fish diseases and invasive species.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the foregoing rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) as a "notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. VHS has been discovered in the Great Lakes, and is moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish diseases to reach the Mississippi drainage. Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDA APHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. The VHS virus can be transported from affected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in the Great Lakes is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
This emergency rule clarifies and expands the emergency rules put into effect on April 8, 2007.
Publication Date:
May 2, 2007
Effective Date:
May 2, 2007
Expiration Date:
September 5, 2007
Hearing Date:
June 11, 2007
5.
Rules adopted revising emergency rules affecting
chs. NR 19 and 20 relating to control of fish diseases and invasive species.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) as a “notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. On May 11, the Department received notice that freshwater drum collected from Little Lake Butte des Morts were infected with the VHS virus. Earlier VHS had been discovered in the Great Lakes, and was known to be moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish disease to reach the Mississippi drainage basin. Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDAAPHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. The VHS virus can be transported from infected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in Wisconsin is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
Publication Date:
May 27, 2007
Effective Date:
May 27, 2007
Expiration Date:
September 5, 2007
Hearing Date:
July 11, 2007
Natural Resources
(Environmental Protection - Water Regulation, Chs.
NR 300-)
Rules adopted revising
ch. NR 345, relating to general permits for dredging in Great Lakes navigable waterways.
Finding of Emergency
The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s.
227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The Wisconsin Legislature enacted
2003 Wisconsin Act 118 to streamline the regulatory process for activities in public trust waters. The state has an affirmative duty to administer the law in a manner consistent with the public trust responsibilities of the State of Wisconsin under Article IX, Section I of the Wisconsin Constitution.
Act 118 identifies certain activities that may be undertaken under a general permit. There are no statutory general permits for dredging, including operation of a motor vehicle, on the beds of the Great Lakes to remove algae, mussels, dead fish and similar large plant and animal nuisance deposits. Without emergency rules to create general permits, all dredging, including operation of a motor vehicle, on the beds of the Great Lakes to remove plant and animal nuisance deposits require an individual permit with an automatic 30-day public notice. The required 30-day comment period will unnecessarily delay projects that otherwise could go ahead with prescribed conditions established in a general permit. To carry out the intention of Act 118 to speed decision-making but not diminish the public trust in state waters, these emergency rules are required to establish general permits to be in effect for the 2007 summer season, with specific standards for operation of a motor vehicle, on the beds of the Great Lakes to remove plant and animal nuisance deposits.
Publication Date:
June 10, 2007
Effective Date:
June 10, 2007
Expiration Date:
November 7, 2007
Hearing Date:
July 10, 2007
Workforce Development (2)
(Workforce Solutions, Chs.
DWD 11 to
59)
1.
Rules adopted revising
s. DWD 56.06, relating to child care rates and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The child care subsidy budget estimates that the child care subsidy program will have a tight budget by the end of fiscal year 06-07. This is due to flat federal funding, rising caseload, and increased provider costs. To begin to address the tight budget, the Department will not increase the child care subsidy maximum rates for 2007. This emergency rule will maintain the maximum rates at 2006 levels.
Publication Date:
January 22, 2007
Effective Date:
January 22, 2007
Expiration Date:
June 21, 2007
Hearing Date:
May 7, 2007
2.
Rules adopted revising
ch. DWD 56, relating to child care enrollment underutilization.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The child care subsidy budget is expected to have a substantial deficit by the end of state fiscal year 2006-07. While many factors will have an impact on the program's final fiscal balance, current spending patterns at current rates suggest that the program will exceed its 06-07 budget authorization by approximately $46 million. This rule will provide for more efficient use of the program's limited funding.
Publication Date:
April 1, 2007
Effective Date:
April 1, 2007
Expiration Date:
August 29, 2007
