Scope statements
Natural Resources
Subject
Development of the General Construction Permit Program. This will affect chapters NR 406, possibly chs.
NR 407 and
410, Wis. Adm. Code.
Policy analysis
The development of a general construction permit program, under ch.
NR 406, Wis. Adm. Code, will allow the air program to issue air pollution control construction permits to specific industries and processes commonly found in Wisconsin in a more timely and efficient manner. Language under s.
NR 407.10, Wis. Adm. Code, for general operation permits may be revised to support coordination between general construction and general operation permits. Fees associated with the general construction permit program will be included under ch.
NR 410, Wis. Adm. Code. Construction permits are currently regulated under ch.
NR 406, Wis. Adm. Code. Existing policy on issuance of construction permits is not changed by this rule proposal. The rule would simplify the construction permit issuance process for certain presently regulated sources.
Statutory authority
Staff time required
374 hours.
Natural Resources
Subject
Creation of s.
NR 463.11 through
NR 463.20. This new subchapter will incorporate the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for facilities that are in the category of secondary aluminum production.
Policy analysis
The existing MACT Streamlining policy is to incorporate into the state administrative code all MACTS that have 10 or more sources in Wisconsin. Initial estimates show there to more than 10 sources belonging to the category of secondary aluminum production.
Statutory authority
Staff time required
The staff time required will be 454 hours.
Public Instruction
Subject
Charge for GED Credential Processing.
Policy analysis
Section
115.29 (4), Stats., allows the state superintendent to establish the standards by which high school graduation equivalency is determined. The state superintendent issues a general educational development (GED) certificate and a high school equivalency diploma (HSED). To receive either the GED certificate or HSED, candidates must pass the GED test battery. The passing test scores are determined by the state superintendent and established in rule under ch.
PI 5. Chapter
PI 5 must be modified to reflect national GED test score changes made to the program and state fee charges allowed under the program. These modifications resulted from the following:
1) The 2002 Series GED Test content and the standard score scale used to determine passing scores changed from the 1988 series. Previously, the GED test scale ranged from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80 with a passing score set at 40 and an average of 45 on the five tests in the battery. The 2002 Series GED test scale ranges from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 800. The American Council on Education requires a passing standard score be not less than 410 on each of the five tests, with an average of 450 on the five tests in the battery.
2)
2003 Wisconsin Act 33, the 2003-2005 biennial budget, allows the state superintendent to promulgate rules establishing fees for issuing a GED certificate or HSED. The rules may provide exemptions from the fees based on financial need. The fee will be charged to an individual applying for a GED certificate or HSED on or after January 1, 2004.
Statutory authority
Staff time required
The amount of time needed for rule development by department staff and the amount of other resources necessary are indeterminable. The time needed to create the rule language itself will be minimal. However, the time involved with guiding the rule through the required rule promulgation process is fairly significant. The rule process takes more than six months to complete.
