EmR2120 Hearing Information

Notice of Hearing

The Department of Natural Resources announces that it will hold a joint public hearing on the following rules at the time and place shown below.

-An emergency rule (EmR 2119 / FH-29-20 (E)) to revise ch. NR 20, relating to lake trout harvest and season in Lake Michigan

-An emergency rule (EmR 2120 / FH-07-21 (E)) to revise chs. NR 20 and 25, relating to fish harvest in Lake Superior

Hearing Information

Date:   August 30

Time:   6 p.m.

Virtual Location Link: Zoom link or by phone at: 1-312-626-6799, Meeting ID 846 0745 3958#

Rule Information:

EmR 2119 / FH-29-20 (E), Lake Trout Harvest and Season in Lake Michigan: This rule went into effect on July 23, 2021, and restores a continuous recreational season and daily bag limit of 5 for lake trout (in combination with other trout and salmon) in waters of Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and major Green Bay tributaries. This bag limit increase for lake trout will also apply on other Green Bay tributaries, but the May to March season will remain the same. The Mid-Lake Reef Complex will remain closed to lake trout fishing.

EmR 2120 / FH-07-21 (E), Fish Harvest in Lake Superior: This rule went into effect on July 23, 2021, and maintains regulatory consistency in the lake trout and cisco quotas and recreational lake trout harvest trigger on Lake Superior while the permanent rule is undergoing its final stages of review. The quotas and regulations contained in this rule mirror those of the permanent rule.

Accessibility

For the hearing or visually impaired, non-English speakers, or those with other personal circumstances which might make communication at the meeting/hearing difficult, DNR will, to the maximum extent possible and with reasonable advance notice, provide aids including an interpreter, or a non-English, large-print, or recorded version of hearing documents. To access these resources, please contact the email address or phone number listed below as soon as possible.

Appearances at the Hearing and Submittal of Written Comments

The public has the opportunity to testify at the hearing. Registration will take place at the hearing by completing a Hearing Appearance form, which is available here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/news/input/ProposedPermanent.html. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged if you plan to provide spoken comments during the hearing. To pre-register, please download and complete the fillable Hearing Appearance form and send it to [e-mail].

Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before August 30, 2021. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail, E-mail, or through the internet and will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearing.

Written comments and any questions on the proposed rules should be submitted to:  

Department of Natural Resources

Attn: Meredith Penthorn

P.O. Box 7921

101 S. Webster Street,

Madison, WI 53707-7921

The rule may be viewed at: https://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/ProposedPermanent.html

Comments can be made at: [e-mail]

The rule may be reviewed, and comments made at: http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/chr/hearings.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:

For EmR 2119 / FH-29-20 (E): Because of the larger bag limit and longer season, the rule is expected to have a positive economic impact on recreational angling businesses, including fishing guides and charter fishing businesses.

The rule is necessary in order to ensure a sustainable lake trout fishery over the long-term that provides an economic and natural resource benefit for all affected. The rule does not impose any compliance or reporting requirements nor would any design or operational standards be contained in the rule.

For EmR 2120 / FH-07-21 (E): This emergency rule will not impose any additional impacts on small businesses beyond the impacts of previous emergency rule EmR 2048 and permanent rule CR 21-024. EmR 2048 and CR 21-024 combined were expected to have a moderate (from $50,000 to $140,000 in total) total economic impact on commercial fishing businesses, and minimal (less than $50,000) impact on sport fishing businesses, due to the following reasons: The reduction in lake trout and cisco quotas may impact the amount of lake trout and cisco harvest within the commercial fishing community, thereby potentially having an economic impact on individual commercial fishers but little impact on the commercial fishing community overall. The reduction in the lake trout harvest trigger to 9,500 lake trout may result in an early recreational lake trout season closure once that number has been harvested, which may affect sport fishing businesses that guide anglers in fishing for lake trout and businesses that support angler activities. However, lake trout are only one component of the Lake Superior fishery available to sport fishers, so sport fishing businesses may only experience a minimal impact from this suite of rules.

The rule does not impose any compliance or reporting requirements, nor would any design or operational standards be contained in the rule. The rule does not allow for the potential to establish a reduced fine for small businesses, nor does it establish “alternative enforcement mechanisms” for “minor violations” of administrative rules made by small businesses. Public utility rate payers and local governmental units will not be affected by the rule.

Agency Small Business Regulatory Coordinator:

Emma Esch [phone]

[e-mail]