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 Kent Van Horn at (608) 266-8841 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

The proposed rule and fiscal estimate 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 Mr. Kent Van Horn, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until August 7, 2008. 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 Mr. Van Horn.

Sections 29.014, 29.041, 29.197 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.

Sections 29.014, 29.041 and 29.885, Stats.

Season dates and bag limits will be set for ducks and Canada geese. Under international treaty and federal law, migratory game bird seasons are closed unless opened annually via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulatory process. Because of the timing of Wisconsin's rule process and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule process, the actual season lengths, dates and bag limits cannot be determined at this time for much of the rule. The daily bag limit for ducks is expected to be 6 ducks including not more than 4 mallards, of which only one may be a hen, one black duck, one pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads and 2 scaup. Season lengths for Canada geese are expected to be: Collins Zone – 67 days; Horicon Zone – 92 days; Exterior Zone – 85 days; and Mississippi River Subzone – 85 days.

The proposed rule also reduces the number of time periods for Canada goose hunting in the Horicon Zone from 4 times periods to 2 time periods. The rule also proposes an addition of 10 days to the mourning dove hunting season which is consistent with the anticipated federal season framework that will be offered this year. The additional 10 days would be added on to the end of our existing 60-day season which runs from September 1 to October 30.

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 SmallBusiness@dnr. state.wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.

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.

The proposed changes will not result in any significant changes in spending or revenue. There are no government costs anticipated due to the provision of this rule.

None

None

None

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on amendments to sections NR 47.007 (1) and 47.008 (1) and the creation of subch. XII of chapter NR 47, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the administration of the urban forestry catastrophic storm grant program.

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

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 Candice Sovinski at (608) 267-3775 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet sites: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov or http://dnr.wi.gov/ org/legal/adminrules.html. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Ms. Candice Sovinski, Bureau of Forest Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or submitted by fax to (608) 266-8576. Comments may be submitted until July 22, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearing. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Ms. Sovinski.

Sections 23.097 (1r) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.

Section 23.097 (1r), Stats.

2007 Wisconsin Act 13 gives the department the authority to provide urban forestry grants to meet communities' needs for repair, removal and replacement of trees following a catastrophic storm event for which the Governor has designated a state of emergency. Act 13 allows for a portion of the current urban forestry grant appropriation be used to fund no-match catastrophic storm grants in an expedited manner for Governor-declared disasters in urban or developed areas of the state.

To accomplish this, the proposed rule will update the general provisions section on grant termination and enforcement and create a new subchapter for the urban forestry catastrophic storm grants which will establish eligibility, application procedures, eligible costs for payment, the grant selection process and the required supporting documentation for the urban forestry catastrophic grant program.

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 SmallBusiness@dnr.state. wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.

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.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers a grant program under which counties, cities, villages, towns, tribal governments and nonprofit organizations receive grants of up to 50 percent of the cost for projects relating to tree management such as development of management plans, ordinances, and tree inventories. 2007 Act 13 authorized the DNR to award grants to any of the aforementioned entities for the costs of removing, repairing, or replacing trees damaged in a catastrophic storm event in an urban area for which the governor has declared a state of emergency. 2007 Act 13 allows the department to provide grants covering 100% of the costs for this purpose.

Since 1990, there has been, on average, one storm annually where the Governor has designated a state of emergency for an area. The Department estimated that grants totalling as much as $106,000, or up to 20% of the total current appropriation for urban forestry grants, and up to $50,000 each, would be made available annually to local governments, tribes and nonprofit organizations in communities suffering a storm event that leads to a declaration of emergency by the Governor. Funding for the proposed grants will come from the existing funding appropriated for the urban forestry grant program, which is currently approximately $529,900 annually.

Increase in costs that may be possible to absorb within agency's budget.

No local government costs. Increase revenues - permissive.

Towns, villages, cities, counties, tribes, NCOs

SEG

Section 20.370 (1) (mv) and (5) (bw), Stats.

It is difficult to predict the future demand for urban forestry catastrophic storm grants. However, should the demand for these grants be high, the repetitive diversion of funds would decrease the number of urban forestry grants to communities by 20%, or an estimated 8 to 10 grants each year.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to Chapters NR 190, 191, 195 and 198, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to aquatic invasive species prevention and control grants.

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

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 Carroll Schaal at (608) 261-6423 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

The proposed rule and fiscal estimate 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 Mr. Carroll Schaal, Bureau of Watershed Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until August 29, 2008. 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 Mr. Schaal.

Sections 23.22 (2) (c), 281.68, 281.69, 281.70 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.

Sections 23.22 (2) (c), 23.24, 281.68, 281.69 and 281.70, Stats.

In 2004, the Department promulgated ch. NR 198 for a cost share program for assisting public and private entities in controlling aquatic invasive species. 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 increased the cost share rates, removed priority for local government sponsors and increased the allocation of $2.8 million annually. The proposed revisions to ch. NR 198 incorporate the new statutes and make additional changes that include larger maximum grant awards, an expanded list of potential sponsors, create incentives and priorities for projects that integrate aquatic invasive species control with other environmental protections and allows communities that are successfully and compliantly managing existing populations of aquatic invasive species to recoup their aquatic plant management permit fees.

Additional changes that increase the value of donated labor, used for local match, from $8 to $12 and require application materials to be submitted in electronic format in ch. NR 198 are also proposed for the closely related lake and river grant programs in chs. NR 190, 191 and 195 for needed uniformity.