Chapter DOC 335

DOC 335.04(8) (8) “Finding of no significant impact” means a conclusion of an environmental assessment that the proposed action is not a major action which will significantly affect the quality of the human environment and that preparation of an EIS is therefore not required.

DOC 335.04(9) (9) “Human environment” or “environment of human beings” means the natural and physical surroundings of people and their relationship with those surroundings. It includes the economic and social aspects of the surroundings of people only when these are inter-related with the natural and physical aspects of those surroundings.

DOC 335.04(10) (10) “Major action” means an action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

DOC 335.04(11) (11) “Program” means a broad area of adult corrections, such as probation and parole and adult institutions.

DOC 335.04(12) (12) “Resource” means water, air, land, plants, animals, energy, historic properties, vistas, wilderness, or that tranquillity which is affected by noise.

DOC 335.04(13) (13) “Scoping” means a process conducted at the outset of preparation of an EIS which involves asking for the views of other governmental agencies and the interested public about what should be in the EIS, the issues it should address, and the relatively more significant issues that should be subjected to in-depth analysis.

DOC 335.04(14) (14) “Secretary” means the secretary of the Wisconsin department of corrections.

DOC 335.04(15) (15) “Significantly affecting” means, in reference to actions, having considerable and important impacts on the quality of the environment, either in terms of the breadth of impact or the severity of impact.

DOC 335.04(16) (16) “WEPA” means the Wisconsin environmental policy act, s. 1.11, Stats.

DOC 335.04 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92.

DOC 335.05 DOC 335.05 Types of actions. The department has grouped its actions into 3 types to facilitate its determination of need for an EIS.

DOC 335.05(1) (1) Type I actions. A type I action will always require an EIS. Construction of a new residential institution of 65 or more beds at a location where there was not previously a department-operated institution is a type I action.

DOC 335.05(2) (2) Type II actions. A type II action may or may not require an EIS, depending on the significance of the action. All of these actions shall be evaluated by means of an environmental assessment (EA). In the EA, the department shall study, develop and describe appropriate alternatives to the proposed action. Type II actions include the following:

DOC 335.05(2)(a) (a) Facilities development.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)1. 1. Construction of a new residential institution of fewer than 65 beds at a location where there was not previously a department-operated institution.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)2. 2. Construction at an existing department-operated institution of a new or replacement building or other structure or the addition to or change in the exterior physical design of a building or other structure, the cost of which is the same as or more than the limit where approval of the building commission is required pursuant to s. 13.48 (10), Stats.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)3. 3. Acquisition or modification of an existing building to serve as a community residential facility for clients.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)4. 4. Modification of a building at an existing department-operated institution to serve a different program and population.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)5. 5. Changes in land use at minimum security facilities or beyond the secure perimeter of other facilities operated by the department to include but not be limited to construction of athletic fields, roads, parking facilities, bridges, and walls or fences.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)6. 6. Construction of a planned lake or pond development or renewal of an existing pond development.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)7. 7. Development of new sanitary land fill and solid waste disposal sites, and closing of existing sites.

DOC 335.05(2)(a)8. 8. Sale of an institution.

DOC 335.05(2)(b) (b) Facilities operation.

DOC 335.05(2)(b)1. 1. New construction, enlargement, or other significant modification in electrical, television, communications, heating, gas, or sewer facilities and systems at an institution.

DOC 335.05(2)(b)2. 2. Demolition projects to remove structures of 100,000 or more cubic feet.

DOC 335.05(2)(b)3. 3. Grant of easements across department property for roads and for above-ground construction of utilities including pipelines and transmission lines.

DOC 335.05(2)(b)4. 4. Changed policies on farming and camp operation on department properties.

DOC 335.05(2)(c) (c) Administrative rules. Promulgation of non-emergency administrative rules under ss. 227.14 to 227.22, Stats. when implementation will have material impacts on the human environment and the department has substantial discretion in formulating important provisions of the rules.

DOC 335.05(2)(d) (d) Plans. Approval of state plans prepared as a requirement for federal financial participation in programs administered by the department, when implementation will have material impacts on the human environment and the department has substantial discretion in formulating important provisions of the plans.

DOC 335.05(2)(e) (e) Legislative proposals. Proposals of the department for state legislation to authorize new programs or major changes in existing programs, the implementation of which would have material effects on the human environment.

DOC 335.05(3) (3) Type III actions. A type III action normally does not have the potential to cause significant environmental effects and normally does not involve unresolved conflicts in the use of available resources, and therefore, unless the department determines otherwise, an EA or an EIS will not be required for the proposed action. Type III actions include the following:

DOC 335.05(3)(a) (a) Facilities development.

DOC 335.05(3)(a)1. 1. Remodelling entirely within a building at an institution for use by the same program.

DOC 335.05(3)(a)2. 2. Institution improvement projects, to include energy conservation and barrier-free access improvements and improvements to outdoor lighting, walkways, signs, shelters, tree plantings, and landscaping.

DOC 335.05(3)(a)3. 3. Restoration of a facility to its original condition following damage from fire, accident, disturbance, or natural calamity.

DOC 335.05(3)(a)4. 4. Closing of an institution or of part of an institution.

DOC 335.05(3)(a)5. 5. Sale of excess lands.

DOC 335.05(3)(b) (b) Facilities operation.

DOC 335.05(3)(b)1. 1. Grant of easements across department property for the purpose of below-ground construction of utilities, including pipelines and transmission lines.

DOC 335.05(3)(b)2. 2. Maintenance of buildings, including but not limited to replacement of doors, windows and roofs, and painting, without altering the architectural integrity of the buildings.

DOC 335.05(3)(b)3. 3. Maintenance of roads, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters at institutions.

DOC 335.05(3)(b)4. 4. Road and parking lot resurfacing on department properties, and expansion without significant extension or relocation.

DOC 335.05(3)(c) (c) Legislative proposals. Positions of the department on legislative proposals originating outside the department.

DOC 335.05(3)(d) (d) Research. For purposes of this paragraph,“research” means systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

DOC 335.05(4) (4) Other actions. Every action not fitting into one of the categories in subs. (1) to (3) shall be evaluated for determination of type.

DOC 335.05(5) (5) Updating of type-list. The action type-list shall be updated from time to time by rulemaking to reflect change in department programs or change in the categorization of department actions.

DOC 335.05 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92.

DOC 335.06 DOC 335.06 Determination of need for an EIS.

DOC 335.06(1) (1) During the early planning of an action, the department shall determine the need or desirability of preparing an EIS on the proposed action, in accordance with ss. DOC 335.05 and 335.07.

DOC 335.06(2) (2) The department shall prepare an EIS for all type I actions, and for all type II actions which are found to significantly affect the environment of human beings.

DOC 335.06(3) (3) The department may prepare an EIS on any other action at any time to assist planning and decisionmaking for the action.

DOC 335.06(4) (4) If the department decides to prepare an EIS, it does not need to prepare an EA.

DOC 335.06 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92.

DOC 335.07 DOC 335.07 Preparation of environmental assessment.

DOC 335.07(1) (1) Except as provided in s. DOC 335.06 (4), to determine whether a type II action is major and significantly affects the quality of the natural and physical environment of human beings, and to describe alternatives to that action, the department shall conduct an environmental assessment and shall prepare a reviewable record in the form of a concise report. This shall be done as early as possible in the planning process but, in any event, before contracts are signed if the action involves construction. The report shall include:

DOC 335.07(1)(a) (a) A description of the proposed action, to include the purpose of the action and need for the action;

DOC 335.07(1)(b) (b) A description of those elements of the environment of human beings which are affected by the proposed action;

DOC 335.07(1)(c) (c) Identification and discussion of the most significant effects on the environment that can be reasonably foreseen if the proposed action is carried out. “Effects” are of 2 types:

DOC 335.07(1)(c)1. 1. Primary effects are those on the resources of water, air, land, plants, animals, energy use, historic properties, wilderness, vistas, and tranquillity which is affected by noise. Primary effects also include those on society and economy, but only when the effects on society and economy are inter-related with the foregoing resources.

DOC 335.07(1)(c)2. 2. Secondary effects are, in relation to primary effects, the foreclosure of future options, establishment of precedents, cumulative impacts when actions of the type are repeated, stimulation of indirect effects, conflicts with official plans of public agencies or with policies of governments at any level, and significant controversy that may be or is generated by the proposed action.

DOC 335.07(1)(d) (d) A consideration of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, including the alternative of no action, and the identification of the significant environmental effects of these alternatives when they differ from the anticipated impacts of the proposed action; and

DOC 335.07(1)(e) (e) A list of agencies and persons consulted, with synopses of the comments and other pertinent information provided by these agencies and persons.

DOC 335.07(1)(f) (f) A preliminary recommendation on the need for an EIS.

DOC 335.07(2) (2) Where proposed actions are likely to be repeated on a recurring basis or where they have relevant similarities such as common timing, impacts, alternatives, methods of implementation, or subject matter, a generic EA may be prepared. The department shall, when addressing a single action already covered by a generic EA, consider the relevance of the generic EA to the specific action.

DOC 335.07(3) (3) 

DOC 335.07(3)(a) (a) The department shall develop a notice that the EA has been prepared and is available for review, which shall include the following information:

DOC 335.07(3)(a)1. 1. The title of the proposed action;

DOC 335.07(3)(a)2. 2. A brief description of the proposed action, to include the location of any project;

DOC 335.07(3)(a)3. 3. The preliminary determination by the department of the need for an EIS;

DOC 335.07(3)(a)4. 4. The name of a contact person within the department who can supply copies of the EA and can answer questions about it; and

DOC 335.07(3)(a)5. 5. The latest date on which the department will accept and consider comments before making a final decision on the need for an EIS.

DOC 335.07(3)(b) (b) The department shall send copies of the notice to all individuals, agencies, and organizations that have requested notification of the EA or of all EAs and, in the case of a project in a particular area of the state, to appropriate news media in the vicinity of the project. The department may also publish the notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

DOC 335.07(3)(c) (c) Following the deadline for receipt of public comment on the EA, the department shall review the EA, consider the comments received on it, make modifications judged necessary, and approve the EA which shall include a finding either of no significant impact or of the need for an EIS.

DOC 335.07(4) (4) If a finding is made in the EA of no significant impact, no EIS shall be required, the environmental review is complete and the original EA shall then be filed in the department’s offices in Madison, Wisconsin and at the county clerk, city clerk or town clerk in the area of the project. Such a finding shall be the final decision of the department which may be appealable as a contested case under ch. 227, Stats.

DOC 335.07(5) (5) If a finding is made in the EA that an EIS is required for the proposed action, the department shall proceed with preparation of an EIS.

DOC 335.07 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92.

DOC 335.08 DOC 335.08 Preparation of environmental impact statement.

DOC 335.08(1) (1) Scoping.

DOC 335.08(1)(a) (a) As soon as possible after the decision to prepare an EIS, the department shall inform the public and affected or otherwise interested agencies that an EIS will be prepared and that the process of identifying impacts and alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS is beginning.

DOC 335.08(1)(b) (b) The scoping process shall include, to the extent possible, affected federal, state and local agencies, any affected Indian tribe, and other interested persons. The process may consist of meetings, hearings, workshops, surveys, questionnaires, interagency committees, or other appropriate methods or activities, and may be integrated with other public participation requirements.

DOC 335.08(1)(c) (c) The department shall use the scoping process to:

DOC 335.08(1)(c)1. 1. Determine the parameters of the EIS and the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS; and

DOC 335.08(1)(c)2. 2. Identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental impact analyses. This will permit limiting the discussion of these issues in the EIS to a brief presentation about why they are not significant for the human environment or to references to other documents in which these issues are discussed.

DOC 335.08(2) (2) Format of statement.

DOC 335.08(2)(a) (a) The EIS shall be written in plain language, and shall be concise, clear, and to the point. It shall include appropriate graphics to help decisionmakers and citizens understand the implications of the proposed action and alternatives for quality of the human environment.

DOC 335.08(2)(b) (b) Parts of the EIS shall be:

DOC 335.08(2)(b)1. 1. A cover sheet containing the title of the proposed action, name of the department, designation of the document as the draft or final statement, name and address of the office where more information can be provided, a one-paragraph abstract of the statement and the last date on which comments on the document will be considered.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)2. 2. A summary of the statement. It shall briefly describe the proposed action and shall emphasize major conclusions, areas of controversy, and issues to be resolved.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)3. 3. A table of contents.