• The Department could, after consulting with the council, adopt current standards, correct code clarity problems, incorporate code interpretations that have developed since the last code change, incorporate new construction practices, products, standards or materials, and incorporate new code requirements into the next code package. These proposed changes would fulfill the objective of protecting public health, safety and welfare. The Department recommends this alternative.
Statutory authority for the rule:
Applicable sections of Wisconsin Statutes:
Section 101.60 - Establishes statewide construction standards for 1-2 family dwellings.
Section 101.63 - Requires Department to establish standards for construction and inspection.
Section 101.63 (5) - Requires Department to biennially review rules.
Section 101.64 (3) - Permits Department to revise rules after consulting with UDC council.
Section 101.73
- Establishes statewide standards for manufactured 1-2 family dwellings.
Section101.74
- Requires Department to establish standards for construction and inspection.
Section 101.73 (8) - Requires Department to biennially review rules.
Section 101.74 (3) - Permits Department to revise rules after consulting with UDC council.
Estimate of the amount of time necessary to develop the rule:
The following is the estimated work time between 11/00 and 4/03 that staff will be involved in these code change issues.
Dwelling code council meetings -
(Average of 40 hr. x 8 meetings) = 320 hr.
Code topics research, language drafts = 450 hr.
Hearings, responses, revisions, etc. = 375 hr.
Environmental assessment - = 40 hr.
Total = 1,185 hr.
Contact information:
If you have specific questions or comments regarding the proposed rule-making, please contact:
Duane Hubeler
Safety and Buildings Division
Program Development Bureau
Dept. of Commerce
Elections Board
Subject:
SS. ElBd 2.05 to 2.07 - Relating to the procedure for filing nomination papers and determining their sufficiency; the procedure for challenging nomination papers; the procedure for responding to challenges to nomination papers; and the procedure for filing officer review of challenges to nomination papers.
Description of policy issues:
Description of objective(s):
The objectives of the rule are:
• To amend the Elections Board's existing rule;
• To amend the provisions that provide for the nomination paper requirements and the standards for determining their sufficiency; and
• To amend the periods of time in which to file a challenge to nomination papers and in which to respond to a challenge to nomination papers.
Description of policies – relevant existing policies, proposed new policies and policy alternatives considered:
Under the existing rules, nomination papers do not have to be numbered and a correction procedure has not been codified. Also, challengers and respondents have three business days in which to file their pleadings with the filing officer. The Board is considering whether nomination papers ought to be numbered and whether a correction procedure ought to be codified. It is also considering whether the periods of time for challenge and response ought to be increased to give challengers more time in which to file a challenge and respondents more time in which to file a response. By extending the time periods for challenge and response, each party would have more time in which to investigate the facts and circumstances underlying the challenge.
Statutory authority for the rule:
Sections 5.05 (1) (f) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.
Estimates of the amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
8 hours of staff time.
Contact information:
If you have specific questions or comments regarding the proposed rule-making, please contact:
George A. Dunst, Legal Counsel
State Elections Board
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs. NR 1--)
Subject:
Section NR 1.62 and ch. NR 45 - Relating to rock climbing on Department properties.
Description of policy issues:
Descnption of policy issues to be resolved, include groups likely to be impacted or interested in the issue:
General policy (s. NR 1.62) regarding rock climbing on Department properties; specific requirements regarding rock climbing which will go into ch. NR 45 - Proposed rules would affect all users of Department properties where rock climbing does or might occur, although the primary affected group would be persons engaged in rock climbing.
The proposed rules would include a Board policy on rock climbing, and specific provisions in ch. NR 45 that would regulate this activity. The Department's intention is that the policy would express general support for rock climbing on most Department properties and provide the basis for those restrictions that are necessary to protect public safety and natural resources.
Rock climbing is an increasingly popular activity in Wisconsin, with state lands (especially Devils Lake State Park) providing significant opportunities for climbers. Concerns about conflicts between climbers and other recreational users, and about damage to especially-sensitive cliff environments, led at Devils Lake to the temporary closure of one portion of the park, known as the “New Sandstone Area", to rock climbing. Concerns were expressed by rock climbers that the Department lacked a definitive policy for managing this activity, and the Department agreed that policies specific to rock climbing needed to be developed.
In early 1999, the Department convened a Rock Climbing Technical Advisory Committee (RCTAC), which consisted of a balanced group of climbers, property managers, and environmental interests, to develop an initial policy proposal. After extensive internal review, a proposed policy was reviewed and approved by the Land and Forestry Leadership Team. This proposal was essentially the same proposal which the RCTAC had approved, with two exceptions. First, the large volume of information contained in the RCTAC's draft was moved to an appendix. Second, a provision restricting rock climbing in State Natural Areas, which had been discussed but not adopted by the RCTAC, was inserted. This provision recognizes the special sensitivity of State Natural Areas and the need for a higher level of resource protection in these areas.
The proposed policy has been further discussed at an August 1 workshop of rock climbers and Department property managers. Comments are due to the Department by October 1. If the proposed policy will be non-controversial, the DNR's intent is to bring it to the Board on the same schedule as other proposed ch. NR 45 changes. If there is substantial disagreement over the proposed policy, the rules would come to the Board later in 2001, although hopefully soon enough to be in effect by climbing season.
To re-emphasize: the Department supports, and wishes to promote, responsible rock climbing on Department lands. The potential for controversy is in the extent of restrictions which the DNR believes are needed to minimize user conflicts and avoid damage to sensitive environments.
This rule/Board action represents a change from past policy.
Explain the facts that necessitate the proposed change:
The Department has generally allowed this activity on a number of its properties. The increased level of this activity and concerns about conflicts with other users and the potential for environmental damage in certain situations have created the need for a more comprehensive and consistent approach to both encouraging the activity and providing appropriate regulation to limit user conflicts and environmental damage.
This rule/Board action does not represent an opportunity for pollution prevention and/or waste minimization. This rule deals with criteria and procedures for management of an outdoor recreation activity which is not a pollution source and does not generate waste.
Statutory authority:
Sections 23.09 (2), 23.28 (3), 27.01 (2) (j) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.
Anticipated time commitment:
The anticipated time commitment is 160 hours. Two to three public hearings are proposed to be held in February, 2001 at Madison, Green Bay and Eau Claire/Wausau.
Contact information:
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:
Bob Roden, Director
Bureau of Facilities and Lands
Dept. of Natural Resources
Telephone: (608)266-2197
Fax: (608)267-2750
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs. NR 1--)
Subject:
Section NR 1.95 - Relating to wetlands preservation, protection and management housekeeping changes to reflect law changes and the Department's wetland strategy, “Reversing the Loss".
Description of policy issues:
Descnption of policy issues to be resolved, include groups likely to be impacted or interested in the issue:
“Reversing the Loss — A Strategy for Protecting and Restoring Wetlands in Wisconsin" and “Section NR 1.95, Wetlands Preservation, Protection and Management."
Last year during a briefing on wetland mitigation, a former member of the Board asked about the Department's vision and goals for protecting and restoring Wisconsin's wetlands. Because of the numerous programs with wetland responsibility, the DNR had many program goals, but did not have a “big picture" for wetland management. Therefore the Wetland Team was assigned to develop a long-term vision with goals and performance measures for the desired future state of our wetlands and to recommend any needed revisions to the state's wetland policy.
