Eau Claire

Room 618, State Office Building

200 N. Jefferson St.

Green Bay

Room 21, State Office Building

101 S. Webster St.

Madison

Room 218, Distance Education & Instruction Technology

UW-Marathon County

518 South 7th Avenue

Wausau

Room C103, UW-Waukesha

1500 University Drive

Waukesha

The fiscal impacts associated with the changes proposed to Subchapter III Chapter NR46 are all as a result of changes made in 2003 Wisconsin Act 228 (AB323) to Chapter 77 Wis. Stats. The fiscal estimates originally prepared for Act 228 (AB323) have been modified for this estimate due to revisions to the bill and a partial veto which occurred after the initial fiscal estimate was prepared. Only those changes that appear in NR 46 are reflected in the fiscal estimate worksheet. This fiscal estimate worksheet shows a decrease in revenue of $124,000 to local units of government, however they will see an increase in revenue of $994,000 due to other changes made in 2003 Wis. Act 228 which are not a result of the rule changes.

PROVISIONS THAT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT to the State and/or the local units of government. (The cost and revenue figures are calculated using 2003 data unless otherwise stated. All state revenues are currently deposited in the Forestry Account of the Conservation Fund.)

The increase in the MFL application fee from $100 to $300 will generate an additional $540,000 per year. It is estimated that the average number of applications in subsequent years will be around 3,000/year of which 10% will qualify for the $20 application fee (additions to existing entries or have a qualifying management plan). 2,700applications x $200 increase/application = $540,000. 2003 Wis Act 228 directs $280 of each application fee or an estimated $756,000 annually to be used by the DNR for contracting with private consultant foresters to prepare MFL management plans.

The development and implementation of a certified plan writer (CPW) program: The majority of the cost involved is in staff time. Approximately 1200 hrs is anticipated during the first year for development of the program and initial entry training, delivery of 6 – 2 day initial entry training sessions, and administration. Annually an estimated 340 hours of staff time will be needed for development and delivery of future training, and administration. Registration fees will cover the cost for materials at training sessions.

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 Ms. Carol Nielsen at (608) 266-8019 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

The proposed rule may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. Mail to Ms. Carol Nielsen, Forest Tax Unit, Bureau of Forest Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until January 14, 2005. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Ms. Nielsen.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 26.30 (6m) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting ss. 26.30, 28.01 and 28.07, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on revisions to ch. NR 47, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the gypsy moth suppression program. Revisions are made necessary by the passage of s. 26.30 (6m), Stats., which reduced the minimum spray block size to 20 compact and contiguous acres and which removed the requirement that residents or proposed spray blocks be notified by mail. Additional changes are proposed that the Department expects to reduce or otherwise ease the workload of the program participants from counties and communities. Many of these changes were suggested by participants over the first years of this program. These changes include:

• Specifying that county coordinators may delegate tasks.

• Allowing notification of the public to the availability of the suppression program by means other than a public meeting.

• Reducing the number of sprayed blocks that county coordinators must survey for defoliation to just those identified as having some defoliation during aerial surveys conducted by the DNR.

• Delaying the due date for applications from December 1 to the first Friday in December.

• Any block revisions will be made with the help of the DNR regional suppression coordinator, removing the requirement to send maps back and forth.

• Requiring a single administrative expense report for the entire year replacing the previous requirement of a report every 6 months.

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. The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at
SmallBusinessReg.Coordinator@dnr.state.wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.

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:

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at 10.00 a.m., Video conference participation will be available at:

S1034, Instructional Serv. Bldg.

UW-Green Bay

2420 Nicolet Dr.

Green Bay

Room 227, Pyle Center,

W Extension

702 Langdon Street

Madison

Room L130, UW-Marinette

750 West Bay Shore

Marinette

Room N029, Northview Bldg.

UW-Waukesha

1500 University Drive

Waukesha

Many of these changes were suggested by participants over the first years of this program. In addition to reducing the workload, these changes may lead to reduction in costs for the program participants though by how much is not predictable.

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 Dr. Andrea Diss at (608) 264-9247 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

The proposed rule may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. Mail to Dr. Andrea Diss, Bureau of Forest Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until February 18, 2005. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Dr. Diss.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That pursuant to ss. 118.43 (6m) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting s. 118.43 (6), Stats., the Department of Public Instruction will hold a public hearing as follows to consider emergency and proposed permanent rules, relating to the payment of state aid under the student achievement guarantee in education (SAGE) program. The hearing will be held as follows:

January 14, 2005   Madison

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.   GEF 3 Building

    125 South Webster Street

    Room 041

The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation to access any meeting, please contact Janice Zmrazek, SAGE Program Coordinator, janice.zmrazek@dpi.state.wi.us, (608) 266-2489, or leave a message with the Teletypewriter (TTY), (608) 267-2427 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Reasonable accommodation includes materials prepared in an alternative format, as provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The administrative rule and fiscal note are available on the internet at:
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dfm/pb/sagerule.html and http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dfm/pb/sagefn.html, respectively. A copy of the proposed rule and the fiscal estimate also may be obtained by sending an email request to lori.slauson@dpi.state.wi.us or by writing to:

Lori Slauson, Administrative Rules and Federal Grants Coordinator

Department of Public Instruction

125 South Webster Street

P.O. Box 7841

Madison, WI 53707

Written comments on the proposed rules received by Ms. Slauson at the above mailing or email address no later than January 19, 2005, will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.

Statute interpreted: s. 118.43 (6), Stats.

Statutory authority: ss. 118.43 (6m), Stats and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.

Explanation of agency authority:

Section 118.43 (6m), Stats., requires the department to promulgate rules to implement and administer the payment of state aid under s. 118.43 (6), Stats.

Because the department is interpreting the provisions of this statute and administers/enforces the program governed by it, s. 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., gives the department general rule-making authority.