15. Include accessibility control requirements for platform lifts, which were previously found in chapter Comm 18. [Comm 18.1802 (8) (a)]
16. Require that a means be provided to permit authorized personnel from a position outside of the vertical platform runway enclosure to raise or lower the platform manually in the event of a power failure, unless standby power is provided. [Comm 18.1802 (8) (d)]
17. Permit inclined platform lifts that have restraining arms and that also fold up against a wall to be used as part of an accessible route in existing construction. These types of lifts would only be permitted under certain conditions in new construction as specified in s.
Comm 62.1109 (7), and must not infringe into the minimum means of egress width required for the building occupants as specified in IBC chapter 10. These units will permit a minimum load capacity of 450 pounds, as opposed to the 750 pound minimum currently in the code. In the past, people with disabilities who use larger motorized chairs felt an increase in capacity was necessary. However, national codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) permit these units with the minimum capacity of 450 pounds. The unit is restricted to travel between 2 consecutive floors and have a maximum of 3 stops, and a sign is required to specify the maximum weight capacity of the lift. [Comm 18.1803]
18. Add a requirement specifying that stairway chairlifts may not be used as an accessible route in public buildings and places of employment, since these units do not provide accessibility for people who use mobility aids, such as wheelchairs. Stairway chairlifts serve only a small number of people with disabilities and may not be considered where an accessible route is required. [Comm 18.1804 (1)]
19. Eliminate the Wisconsin-based requirement that vertical platform lifts may penetrate a floor, since the ASME A18.1a standard now permits vertical platform lifts to penetrate a floor. [ASME A18.1a section 2.1]
Council Members and Representation
The proposed rules were developed with the assistance of the Elevator Advisory Council. The members of that citizen advisory council are as follows:
Name Representing
Don Annen WI State Fire Chiefs Association, Inc.
Warren Bauer American Institute of Architects-WI Society
David Koch National Assn. of Elevator Contractors
Bruce Lammi WI Society of Professional Engineers
Steve Lex WI State AFL-CIO
Jeff Lund Waupaca Elevator Company
William Page Accessibility Equip. Manufacturers Assn.
David Rakowski Otis Elevator Company
John Zalewski National Elevator Industry, Inc.
Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearings and present comments on the proposed rules. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their comments in writing. Persons submitting comments will not receive individual responses. The hearing record on this proposed rulemaking will remain open until July 25, 2003 , to permit submittal of written comments from persons who are unable to attend a hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at a hearing. Written comments should be submitted to Diane Meredith, Department of Commerce, Program Development Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, WI 53701-2689, or Email
dmeredith@commerce.state.wi.us.
These hearings are held in accessible facilities. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call (608) 266-8741 or (608) 264-8777 (TTY) at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as interpreters, English translators, or materials in audiotape format will, to the fullest extent possible, be made available upon request by a person with a disability.
The proposed rules and an analysis of the proposed rules are available on the Internet at the Safety and Buildings Division web site at:
www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage.html. Paper copies may be obtained without cost from Roberta Ward, Department of Commerce, Program Development Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, WI 53701-2689, Email
rward@commerce.state.wi.us, telephone (608) 266-8741 or (608) 264-8777 (TTY). Copies will also be available at the public hearings.
Environmental Analysis
Notice is hereby given that the Department has considered the environmental impact of the proposed rules. In accordance with chapter Comm 1, the proposed rules are a Type III action. A Type III action normally does not have the potential to cause significant environmental effects and normally does not involve unresolved conflicts in the use of available resources. The Department has reviewed these rules and finds no reason to believe that any unusual conditions exist. At this time, the Department has issued this notice to serve as a finding of no significant impact.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
1. Types of small businesses that will be affected by the rules.
All small businesses that have elevators, escalators, or lift devices will be affected by these rules.
2. Reporting, bookkeeping and other procedures required for compliance with the rules.
Owners of buildings with elevators, escalators, or lift devices will be required to keep a log of the maintenance performed on their equipment, and to make this log available to inspectors.
Owners of hydraulic elevators installed prior to January 1, 1975 and that have below ground cylinders will be required to perform an annual pressure test or a static test to determine if there is an unexplained loss of oil. The average cost to perform these tests is $500 per elevator. If the tests show an unexplained loss of oil, the hydraulic cylinders will need to be replaced.
3. Types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rules.
None known.
Fiscal Estimate
Note: The estimated cost to perform annual pressure test is $500 per elevator. There are approximately 1750 hydraulic elevators that were installed in Wisconsin and that have below ground cylinders, and of this total, approximately 100 are installed in state owned facilities. It is estimated that, annually, the cost for the Department of Administration to have these tests performed on hydraulic elevators located in state-owned facilities will be $50,000. Local government units will also be impacted, however it is impossible to determine the number of affected hydraulic elevators that are installed in local government buildings throughout the state and the extent of the fiscal impact.
Notice of Hearing
Commerce
(Financial Resources for Bus. and Communities, Chs.
Comm 105 -
128)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
560.02 (4) and
560.04, Stats., the Department of Commerce will hold public hearings on proposed rules relating to the use of rapid response funds in economically depressed areas to preserve economic development.
Hearing Information
Date, Time and Location:
June 16, 2003 10:00 a.m.
Conference Room 3B
201 West Washington Ave.
Madison, Wisconsin
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Commerce
Statutes Interpreted: s.
560.04, Stats.
Pursuant to s.
560.04, Stats., the Department of Commerce (Commerce), as a part of its comprehensive duties involving community development and economic development, administers federal funds in the form of grants to eligible communities related to economic development. Under current rules, the maximum amount of funds that may be awarded to a community is $1 million per calendar year and the maximum amount that a business may borrow from a local government under the economic development program is also $1 million during any 5-year period. The timing and dollar limitations specified in the rules are barriers to providing a comprehensive and rapid response to changing economic conditions in a community.
Given the uncertainty inherent in today's marketplace, Commerce would like to maximize the use of federal community development block grant funds to positively impact local economies. Under the rules, as currently structured, Commerce's ability to respond rapidly to actual or potential plant closings or relocations in a specific geographical region is limited. The following rule will allow Commerce to respond more rapidly to changing economic conditions.
This rule provides Commerce, working collaboratively with local communities, the ability to quickly respond to changing economic conditions due to potential plant closings, business relocations, layoffs, and other economic factors that could negatively affect the economic conditions in the community and state.
Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearings and present comments on the proposed rules. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their comments in writing. Persons submitting comments will not receive individual responses. The hearing record on this proposed rulemaking will remain open until June 22, 2003, to permit submittal of written comments from persons who are unable to attend a hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at a hearing. Written comments should be submitted to Richard Meyer, Department of Commerce, Code Development, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, WI 53701-2689.
These hearings are held in accessible facilities. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call (608) 266-8741 or (608) 264-8777 (TTY) at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as interpreters, English translators, or materials in audio tape format will, to the fullest extent possible, be made available upon request by a person with a disability.
Environmental Analysis
Notice is hereby given that the Department has considered the environmental impact of the proposed rules. In accordance with chapter Comm 1, the proposed rules are a Type III action. A Type III action normally does not have the potential to cause significant environmental effects and normally does not involve unresolved conflicts in the use of available resources. The Department has reviewed these rules and finds no reason to believe that any unusual conditions exist. At this time, the Department has issued this notice to serve as a finding of no significant impact.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
1. Types of small businesses that will be affected by the rules.
Small businesses are positively impacted by this rule as local communities will more effectively be able to respond to changing economic conditions due to potential plant closings, business relocations, layoffs, and other economic factors that could negatively affect the economic conditions in the community.
Small businesses could be a direct recipient of the award from the local community or an indirect economic benefactor due to the prevention of business closing in the area.
2. Reporting, bookkeeping and other procedures required for compliance with the rules.
No special reporting, bookkeeping and other procedures are required for compliance with the rules.
3. Types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rules.
No special professional skills are necessary for compliance with the rules.
Fiscal estimate
This rule involves federal funds and does not impact state funds. Existing agency staff will administer the provisions of this rule.
Paper copies may be obtained without cost from Richard Meyer, Department of Commerce, Code Development Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, WI 53701-2689, Email
rmeyer@commerce.state.wi.us, telephone (608) 266-3080. Copies will also be available at the public hearings.
Contact Person
Todd Kearney, Acting Division Administrator
608-266-6675
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—)
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
169.02,
169.24 (3) and
169.36, Stats., interpreting ss.
169.02 (3),
169.04 (2) (a) 1.,
169.05 (1),
169.06 (1) (a),
169.07 (1) (a),
169.085,
169.11 (3) (b) 2.,
169.24 and
169.36, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on the renumbering of the current subch.
II of ch. NR 19 and the creation of a new subch.
II of ch. NR 19, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to wildlife rehabilitation licenses and activities. As of January 1, 2003, wildlife rehabilitators and other holders of captive wildlife were subject to regulation under ch.
169, Stats. This includes new licenses and requirements of operation. This rule implements those license requirements of operation.
Specifically, this rule establishes the qualifications required to obtain a rehabilitation license, the types of activities authorized by a rehabilitation license and the standards, limitations and requirements for rehabilitation licenses. To create room in ch.
NR 19 for the rehabilitation rules, the Wildlife Damage subchapter is being moved to ch.
NR 12.
These rules define the purpose of the subchapter, create definitions, outline general rehabilitation guidelines, create standards for obtaining either a basic or advanced license, application requirements, examination standards, facility inspection guidelines and authorities, facility housing standards, care and treatment standards, infectious disease reporting requirements, record keeping and reporting requirements and establishes the requirements and duties of advanced sponsors and the rehabilitation advisory committee.
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.
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.
Hearing Information
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on:
Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at 6:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Wausau City Hall
407 Grant Street
Wausau
Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 1:00 p.m.
Room 511, GEF #2
101 South Webster Street
Madison
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 Kurt Thiede at (608) 267-2452 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Contact Person
Written comments on the proposed rules may be submitted to Mr. Kurt Thiede, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than June 30, 2003. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearings. A copy of the proposed rule [WM-08-03] and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Thiede.
Notice of Hearings
