NR 44.04(2) (2) Authorization to conduct a planning process. Any planning process for the purpose of developing a master plan, a plan revision or a plan amendment shall be conducted in accordance with this chapter, unless otherwise directed by the board, and only after following a notification and approval process to proceed with the action established by the board.

NR 44.04(3) (3) Plan approval. A plan or plan amendment shall be approved by the board, except as provided under sub. (2). The board may adopt a proposal as submitted by the department or modify the proposal as deemed appropriate and reasonable.

NR 44.04(4) (4) Plan variance and minor plan amendment initiation and approval.

NR 44.04(4)(a) (a) A plan variance may be initiated by the department and may be approved by the department following reasonable notification of persons affected by or interested in management of the property, including persons requesting notification, and after appropriate public involvement.

NR 44.04(4)(b) (b) A minor master plan amendment may be used to assign a management and use prescription and classification to land acquired under a property boundary expansion not exceeding 160 acres, provided the prescription is consistent with the master plan’s goal and objectives. A minor amendment may be initiated by the department and may be approved by the department after appropriate public involvement.

NR 44.04 Note Note: A plan variance and minor plan amendment are approved by the department secretary or a division administrator.

NR 44.04(5) (5) Other plan changes. The department may make changes to a master plan without following the procedures in this section under the following circumstances:

NR 44.04(5)(a) (a) To comply with non-discretionary changes in the plan required due to a law or regulation change. The department shall periodically, or otherwise as appropriate, inform affected or interested parties of nondiscretionary changes in a plan.

NR 44.04(5)(b) (b) When correcting typographical errors or making corrections to maps, including the delineation of areas where management prescriptions apply, provided the changes are due to improved on-the-ground information relating to the application of the management prescriptions and are consistent with the intent of the plan.

NR 44.04(6) (6) Requests for a plan amendment, revision or variance.

NR 44.04(6)(a) (a) In addition to the review requirement in sub. (12), a plan amendment or revision may be proposed at any time by the department or any person, and an amendment or revision request shall be filed in writing with the secretary of the department. The secretary shall inform the board of requests as filed under this section, and the department shall notify the person or persons making the request of the board’s decision.

NR 44.04(6)(b) (b) A variance to the master plan may be proposed at any time by the department or any person, and a request for a variance shall be filed in writing with the person designated in accordance with sub. (9) (a) 6.

NR 44.04(7) (7) Public and other government involvement.

NR 44.04(7)(a) (a) The public shall be provided opportunities to participate throughout the planning process for a property.

NR 44.04(7)(b) (b) As appropriate to the circumstances of each planning process, and in addition to the general public involvement process described in this subsection, the department shall consult with federal, state, county, town and local units of government, local agencies and Indian tribes.

NR 44.04(7)(c) (c) During a planning process for properties lying within the ceded territory recognized by Lac Courte Oreilles v. Voigt, 700 F.2d, 341 (7th Cir. 1983), the department shall consult on a government to government basis with Indian tribes retaining off-reservation hunting, fishing and gathering rights in that territory. The department shall establish the procedures for the tribal consultation process based upon a dialogue with and the agreement of the tribes. This consultation requirement shall apply to the development, review, revision, amendment or variance of a master plan.

NR 44.04(7)(d) (d) Public involvement in the planning process may include meetings, hearings, workshops, open houses, surveys, questionnaires, letters, submitted proposals, personal contacts, study committees, advisory groups and other methods or activities tailored to the needs of the individual master planning effort.

NR 44.04(7)(e) (e) Public involvement in the planning process may be for the following purposes:

NR 44.04(7)(e)1. 1. Identifying issues related to management and use;

NR 44.04(7)(e)2. 2. Submitting suggestions to the department regarding future management and use of a property;

NR 44.04(7)(e)3. 3. Identifying and evaluating proposed property goals and objectives; and

NR 44.04(7)(e)4. 4. Evaluating management and use alternatives.

NR 44.04(7)(f) (f) Prior to the initiation of public involvement, except for public surveys or other preliminary issue identification activities, and prior to the formulation of a plan, including management goals and objectives, a plan revision or a plan amendment, the department shall prepare a public involvement plan conforming with this paragraph and make it available to affected or interested parties for comment. The department may revise the public involvement plan at any time with appropriate notice to affected or interested parties. At a minimum, a public involvement plan shall include the following:

NR 44.04(7)(f)1. 1. A description of the process the department intends to use to obtain and assure reasonable public involvement at appropriate points throughout the planning effort; and

NR 44.04(7)(f)2. 2. A description of the process the department intends to use to identify affected or interested parties and notify them about the planning process. Affected or interested parties may include federal, state or local agencies; other government officials and regional planning commissions; Indian tribes; timber, tourism or any other affected business entities; citizen groups, clubs, committees or individuals who have a demonstrated interest; nearby landowners; and users of the property.

NR 44.04(7)(g) (g) The department shall designate a department employee to be the primary public contact person for each planning process. Concerns or inquiries by any person about the process may be submitted to the contact person who shall have the responsibility to review and respond on behalf of the department.

NR 44.04(7)(h) (h) When initiating the public involvement process, the department shall distribute a news release to appropriate news media in the vicinity of the property or statewide if the property has statewide significance. At a minimum, the news release shall include the following information:

NR 44.04(7)(h)1. 1. A notice of intent to develop, revise or amend a master plan and to prepare an environmental analysis document required by s. 1.11, Stats., or ch. NR 150;

NR 44.04(7)(h)2. 2. A brief description of the property and its location;