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 Al Phelan at (608) 266-0580 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

Written comments on the proposed rule revisions for wildlife may be submitted to Mr. Kurt Thiede, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Written comments on the proposed rule revisions for fisheries may be submitted to Mr. Pat Schmalz, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Written comments shall be postmarked no later than April 9, 2002. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearings. Written comments will NOT, however, be counted as spring hearing votes.

It is not expected that these changes will result in a fiscal impact.

A copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimates may be obtained from Mr. Al Phelan, Bureau of Legal Services, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by calling (608) 266-0580.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to chs. 281 and 283, Stats., interpreting ss. 283.15 and 283.31, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the creation of s. NR 106.145 and revisions to chs. NR 211 and 219, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to regulating mercury in wastewater discharge permits. The proposed rule adds a new high-sensitivity analytical method to ch. NR 219 that allows mercury to be accurately measured in surface waters and wastewater effluents. Proposed s. NR 106.145 makes a finding that wastewater treatment technology for mercury is impractical and requires wastewater permittees to implement pollution prevention programs in exchange for water quality standards variances. Proposed s. NR 211.41 requires municipal entities to impose source reduction measures on users of their sewer systems.

Additional information can be found by visiting the Department Internet page at:
ww.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/ww/index.htm which is the Department's WPDES permits web site, and then clicking on “Mercury in Wastewater Strategy".

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.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearing will be held on:

March 13, 2002   Room 611B, GEF #2,

Wednesday     101 South Webster St., Madison

at 10:00 a.m.

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 Tom Mugan at (608) 266-7420 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

The Department anticipates no fiscal impact to the state or local governments. The Department has been working with the regulated community on mercury source reduction for years. These rules provide a more systematic means of accomplishing for mercury the intent of rules aimed at limiting the release of toxic pollutants to waters of the state, and are not expected to increase the Department's workload.

Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Thomas Mugan, Bureau of Watershed Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than March 20, 2002. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearings. A copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Mugan.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to chs. 23, 30, 31 and 281 and s. 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting chs. 23, 30, 31 and 281, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on the creation of ch. NR 353, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to wetland conservation activities. To encourage wetland conservation and management projects, the department is proposing to create a general permit process for specific activities used in wetland conservation projects. In addition, the proposed rule establishes a process to authorize maintenance activities by owners of existing wetlands.