Wisconsin Legislature: NR 40.06(1)

NR 40.05 Note Note: Paragraph (b) does not apply to preventive measures set out in s. NR 40.07.

NR 40.05(3)(c) (c) If authorized by a permit issued by the department under this chapter, a person may transport, possess, transfer or introduce a restricted invasive species for research, public display, or for other purposes specified by the department in the permit.

NR 40.05(3)(d) (d) A legally obtained nonnative wild animal that is a pet may be possessed, transported or transferred without a permit issued by the department under this chapter if obtained prior to and located in the State of Wisconsin on the date the species is listed as restricted under this section. The offspring of pets possessed under this paragraph may not be transferred except as a gift.

NR 40.05(3)(e) (e) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person who transports, possesses, transfers or introduces a terrestrial invertebrate or plant disease-causing microorganism that is regulated under a quarantine imposed by DATCP under s. 94.01, Stats., or a United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service quarantine area declared under 7 USC section 7714 or 7715 if any of the following apply:

NR 40.05(3)(e)1. 1. The person is in compliance with a DATCP-USDA APHIS compliance agreement applicable to the terrestrial invertebrate or plant disease-causing microorganism.

NR 40.05(3)(e)2. 2. The transport, possession, transfer, or introduction takes place entirely within the quarantine applicable to the terrestrial invertebrate or plant disease-causing microorganism.

NR 40.05(3)(f) (f) A person may transport or give away a restricted invasive species for the purpose of identification, education, control, or disposal without a permit issued by the department under this chapter, if no viable individual specimens or propagules are allowed to escape or be introduced. This paragraph does not apply to terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates or fish species.

NR 40.05 Note Note: New populations of restricted aquatic plant species may be reported to the appropriate department regional aquatic invasive species coordinator. Visit the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov) keywords “reporting invasives" to view a list of waterbodies with known invasives and reporting contacts.

NR 40.05(3)(h) (h) Restricted plant species parts that are incapable of reproducing or propagating may be transported, transferred or introduced without a permit issued by the department under this chapter.

NR 40.05(3)(i) (i) Multiflora rose, when used as root stock for ornamental roses, may be transported, transferred or introduced without a permit issued by the department under this chapter.

NR 40.05(3)(j) (j) Koi carp and goldfish may be transported, possessed or transferred without a permit issued by the department under this chapter but koi carp may not be used as bait or introduced to any water of the state except waters of the state that are artificial, entirely confined and retained upon the property of a person, do not drain to other waters of the state, are not subject to intermittent or periodic flooding, and are not connected to any other water of the state.

NR 40.05 Note Note: Section NR 20.08 (1) prohibits the use of goldfish as bait and the possession of goldfish in any form or manner on any water of the state.

NR 40.05(3)(k) (k) If held in a safe facility, nonviable fish species and nonnative viable fish species in the aquarium trade may be transported, possessed or transferred without a permit issued by the department under this chapter. In addition, rusty crayfish taken from the Mississippi River can be used as bait on the Mississippi River as authorized under s. NR 19.27 (4) (a) 1. a.

NR 40.05 Note Note: Possession of dead crayfish for purposes of fishing bait on all waters, including outlying waters, is not prohibited under this chapter, but may be restricted under other rules that regulate the use of certain types of bait for fishing purposes.

NR 40.05(3)(L) (L) Nonnative fish species in the aquaculture industry may be transported, possessed in a safe facility, possessed in a registered fish farm, or transferred without a permit issued by the department under this chapter.

NR 40.05 Note Note: A department permit is required under this chapter and s. 29.735, Stats., to import nonnative fish for the purpose of introduction into any waters of the state, and under s. 29.736, Stats., to stock or introduce any fish, and DATCP regulates fish farms under ch. ATCP 10.

NR 40.05(3)(m) (m) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person who has a permit issued by DATCP under s. ATCP 21.04 for importation, movement, distribution or release of a pest or biological control agent that is a restricted invasive species identified or listed under sub. (2).

NR 40.05(3)(n) (n) Paragraph (a) does not apply to phragmites associated with a reed bed treatment unit used in a wastewater treatment facility authorized by a WPDES permit under ch. 283, Stats.

NR 40.05(3)(o) (o) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any of the following:

NR 40.05(3)(o)1. 1. A person who holds a scientific collector permit for the invasive species under s. 29.614, Stats.

NR 40.05(3)(o)2. 2. A person who, while lawfully fishing, inadvertently catches a fish invasive species.

NR 40.05(3)(o)3. 3. Employees or duly authorized agents of the department in the performance of their official duties.

NR 40.05 Note Note: Section NR 20.20 (73) (c) 1. sets a bag limit of 0 for nonindigenous detrimental fish, but allows one such fish to be taken by hook and line if it is killed immediately and delivered immediately to a department service center or regional office. All nonindigenous fish species are declared under s. NR 20.38 (6) to be detrimental fish if the fish were imported without a permit in violation of s. 29.735, Stats., or are found in any water where their presence is not specifically permitted by the department.

NR 40.05(3)(p) (p) Restricted plants listed under sub. (2) that are not also listed as prohibited under s. NR 40.04 (2) (b) and that were located in Wisconsin prior to the effective date of the listing of the species under sub. (2) may be transported, transferred, and introduced without a permit for a period not to exceed 3 years for herbaceous plants and woody vines, or 5 years for trees and shrubs, from the effective date of the listing of that species under sub. (2).

NR 40.05 Note Note: The effective date of the listing of a species under sub. (2) is the effective date of the rule that adds the species under sub. (2). Plants added to the restricted list under sub. (2) after 2009 are indicated by a note following the listing in sub. (2) stating the effective date of the listing. All plant listings in sub. (2) without an effective date note have been restricted since 2009.

NR 40.05(4) (4) Control requirements. Any person who grows a restricted plant at a nursery shall make a good faith effort to destroy it upon closure of the nursery.

NR 40.05 Note Note: Any person who owns, controls or manages land where a restricted plant species is present in the pioneering stage, in an area otherwise not infested with that species or where there is a high priority resource threatened by a restricted plant species is encouraged to control the restricted plant or contain it to the already infested sites, to reduce its population, and to foster an increase in desired species.

NR 40.05 History History: CR 08-074: cr. Register August 2009 No. 644, eff. 9-1-09; CR 10-016: am. (2) (b) 11., 13., 14., 25., 29., 43., 46. Register August 2010 No. 656, eff. 9-1-10; CR 14-034: am. (2) (b) (intro.), renum. (2) (b) 1. to 1s., cr. (2) (b) 1e., 1m., 2m., am. (2) (b) 3., cr. (2) (b) 3g., 3r., am. (2) (b) 4., cr. (2) (b) 6m., 10e., 10m., 10s., am. (2) (b) 11., 14., cr. (2) (b) 14m., am. (2) (b) 20., cr. (2) (b) 21m., 23r., 24m., am. (2) (b) 25., 27., cr. (2) (b) 27e., 27m., 27s., am. (2) (b) 28., cr. (2) (b) 28m., am. (2) (b) 29., cr. (2) (b) 32g., 32r., 33e., 33m., 33s., 34m., 35m., am. (2) (b) 36., cr. (2) (b) 36m., renum. (2) (b) 37. to 23g. and am., cr. (2) (b) 37m., 40g., 40r., 41m., am. (2) (b) 42., 43., cr. (2) (b) 45g., 45r., (c) 5., (d) 1m., 3., 4., renum. (2) (e) 1. to 3., cr. (2) (e) 1m., 2., r. (2) (f), am. (3) (d), renum. (3) (e) to (e) (intro.) and am., cr. (3) (e) 1., 2., am. (3) (f), r. (3) (g), am. (3) (k), cr. (3) (o) 3., (p) Register April 2015 No. 712, eff. 5-1-15; correction in (2) (b) 3., 3r., 8., 35m., 36., (3) (e) 1. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register April 2015 No. 712; CR 16-037: am. (2) (b) 3., 13., 14., 33s., (e) 2. Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17.

NR 40.06 NR 40.06 Invasive species permits. A person may transport, possess, transfer or introduce a prohibited invasive species listed in s. NR 40.04 (2), or a restricted invasive species listed in s. NR 40.05 (2), if the person has been issued a permit by the department under this section for the activity.

NR 40.06(1) (1) Written application required.

NR 40.06(1)(a) (a) Applications for permits under this chapter shall be submitted in writing to the department on forms available from the department. The application shall include the name and quantity or number of invasive species specimens for which a permit is sought, whether the permit is sought for the transportation, possession, transfer or introduction of the invasive species, a description of other relevant permits, approvals or licenses of the applicant and the applicant's purpose or reasons for seeking a permit. The department may request additional information in order to determine whether the criteria of sub. (2) are met. This may include but is not limited to: where the invasive species is located or will be kept, how they will be kept from spreading into the wild, how they will be disseminated, and how they will be destroyed once the applicant is done using them.

NR 40.06 Note Note: Applications for permits may be sent to:

NR 40.06 Note Attn: Statewide Invasive Species Coordinator, SS/7
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921

NR 40.06 Note Note: Reports may also be sent by email to invasive.species@wisconsin.gov.

NR 40.06(1)(b) (b) The department shall act on complete permit applications within 45 days following receipt of the application.

NR 40.06(2) (2) Approval criteria. The department shall review permit applications to determine whether all of the following criteria are met:

NR 40.06(2)(a) (a) The applicant is knowledgeable in the proper management or humane care of the invasive species.

NR 40.06(2)(b) (b) The applicant has an adequate site or facility for containment of the invasive species.

NR 40.06(2)(c) (c) The applicant has demonstrated to the department's satisfaction that permitted activities will not cause significant ecologic or economic harm or harm to human health.

NR 40.06(2)(d) (d) The applicant has complied with the conditions of any previous department permits issued under this chapter.

NR 40.06(3) (3) Issuance and conditions.

NR 40.06(3)(a) (a) If it determines that there is significant public interest, the department may hold a public informational hearing on a permit application before acting on the application.

NR 40.06(3)(b) (b) An applicant meeting the criteria described in sub. (2) may be issued a permit subject to conditions the department considers reasonable.

NR 40.06(4) (4) Records and reporting. Each permittee shall keep a current, correct and complete record of all permit activities as required by the department, on forms available from the department. Permit records may be inspected and copied by the department at any time. Copies of records shall be provided to the department upon request.

NR 40.06(5) (5) Permit transfer; alteration. Unless expressly provided by the terms of the permit or by subsequent written approval of the department, permits issued under this chapter are not transferable. No person may alter or deface a permit issued under this chapter.

NR 40.06(6) (6) Violations. No person may violate any term of any permit issued under this chapter.

NR 40.06(7) (7) Other permits or approvals. A person who holds a permit or approval issued by the department under another chapter or a statute other than s. 23.22, Stats., is not required to hold a permit under this chapter to transport, possess, transfer or introduce a prohibited invasive species listed in s. NR 40.04 (2), or a restricted invasive species listed in s. NR 40.05 (2), if the department determines that all of the following apply:

NR 40.06(7)(a) (a) The permit or approval expressly authorizes the transportation, possession, transfer or introduction of the prohibited invasive species listed in s. NR 40.04 (2), or the restricted invasive species listed in s. NR 40.05 (2).

NR 40.06(7)(b) (b) The permit or approval includes legally enforceable requirements that are at least equivalent to those that would be contained in a permit issued by the department under this chapter.

NR 40.06(7)(c) (c) The person is not in violation of the permit or approval.

NR 40.06 History History: CR 08-074: cr. Register August 2009 No. 644, eff. 9-1-09.

NR 40.07 NR 40.07 Preventive measures.

NR 40.07(1)(1) Notification required. Any person who possesses a restricted invasive fish species in a safe facility shall notify the department within 24 hours of any escape of a specimen or viable part of a specimen, or of any failure of the integrity of the safe facility that could allow the escape of any specimen or viable part of a specimen. The notice shall be made in writing by mail or by e-mail and shall include the specific location of the known, suspected, or anticipated escape and the fish species involved.

NR 40.07 Note Note: The notice shall be mailed to the Director, Bureau of Fisheries Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921 and e-mailed to DNRFishHabitatProtection@wisconsin.gov.

NR 40.07(2) (2) Immediate removal of aquatic plants and aquatic animals and drainage of water.

NR 40.07(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (g):

NR 40.07(2)(a)1. 1. Any person who removes a vehicle, boat, boat trailer, boating or fishing equipment, or other equipment or gear of any type from any inland or outlying water or from its bank or shore shall remove all attached aquatic plants and aquatic animals immediately after removing the vehicle, boat, boat trailer, boating or fishing equipment or other equipment or gear from the water, bank or shore and before leaving any boat launch area or associated parking area.

NR 40.07 Note Note: Section 30.07 (2) (a) and (b), Stats., prohibit any person from placing or operating a vehicle, seaplane, watercraft, or other object of any kind in a navigable water if it has any aquatic plants or aquatic animals attached to the exterior and from taking off with a seaplane, or transporting or operating a vehicle, watercraft, or other object of any kind on a highway with aquatic plants or aquatic animals attached to the exterior.

NR 40.07(2)(a)2. 2. Any person who removes a vehicle or equipment other than boating or fishing equipment, or gear of any type from any inland or outlying water or from its bank or shore shall drain all water from the vehicle, equipment or gear, including water in any motor, tank or other container, immediately after removing the vehicle, equipment or gear from the water, bank or shore and before leaving any boat launch area or associated parking area.

NR 40.07 Note Note: Section NR 19.055 (1) requires any person who removes a boat, boat trailer, boating equipment or fishing equipment from any inland or outlying water or its bank or shore to immediately drain all water from the boat, boat trailer, boating equipment or fishing equipment, including water in any bilge, ballast tank, bait bucket, live well or other container immediately after removing the boat, boat trailer, boating equipment or fishing equipment from the water, bank or shore, with certain exceptions.

NR 40.07 Note Note: Chapters NR 320, 323, 328, 329, 341, 343 and 345, relating to general navigable waters permit criteria, set out equipment decontamination requirements to stop the spread of invasive species from one waterway to another and require removal of all plants, animals, mud, debris, etc., before and after use.

NR 40.07 Note Note: See ss. 30.18 (2) and 31.02 (1), Stats., regarding the diversion or withdrawal of water from lakes and streams. Withdrawals are regulated through individual permits that may consider the associated risk of spreading invasive species.

NR 40.07(2)(b) (b) The department may exempt any vehicle, equipment or gear in writing from par. (a) 1. or 2. if it determines that it will not allow invasive species to be transported to other waters.

NR 40.07(2)(c) (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to decontaminated equipment, tanks or containers when used for the operation or maintenance of dry fire hydrants that are subject to ch. NR 329.

NR 40.07 Note Note: See s. NR 329.04 (1) (c) 5. and (2) (c) 4. c. regarding the maintenance and operation of dry fire hydrants.

NR 40.07(2)(d) (d) Paragraph (a) 1. does not apply to an aquatic animal whose possession is authorized by department rule.

NR 40.07 Note Note: An example of an aquatic animal whose possession is authorized by department rule is a dead game fish taken in compliance with ch. NR 20.

NR 40.07(2)(e) (e) Paragraph (a) 2. does not apply to water in closed engine cooling systems or to tanks or containers of potable drinking water or other beverages meant for human consumption.

NR 40.07(2)(f) (f) Paragraph (a) 2. does not apply to water in a container that holds live bait minnows obtained from a Wisconsin bait dealer, if the container holds no other fish, contains 2 gallons or less of water, and is used to transport only live minnows that have not been exposed to water or fish from that inland or outlying water or will be used for bait only on the same inland or outlying water, its bank or shore.

NR 40.07 Note Note: The transport of live fish and fish eggs away from any inland or outlying water or its bank or shore is prohibited by s. NR 19.05 (3), with certain exceptions.

NR 40.07(2)(g) (g) Paragraph (a) does not apply to vehicles, equipment, or gear while engaged in fire suppression.

NR 40.07(3) (3) Transport of vehicles and equipment into Wisconsin; removal prior to entry of aquatic plants and aquatic animals and drainage of water.

NR 40.07(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d), no person may do any of the following:

NR 40.07(3)(a)1. 1. Transport over land from another state any vehicle, boat, boat trailer, boating or fishing equipment, or other equipment or gear of any type for use on any water of the state or its bank or shore unless the person first removes all attached aquatic plants and aquatic animals from the vehicle, boat, boat trailer, boating or fishing equipment, or other equipment or gear of any type before entering the state.

NR 40.07(3)(a)2. 2. Transport over land from another state any vehicle, equipment other than boating or fishing equipment, or gear of any type for use on any water of the state or its bank or shore unless the person first drains all water from the vehicle, equipment or gear, including water in any motor, tank, or other container before entering the state.

NR 40.07 Note Note: Section NR 19.055 (2) prohibits any person from transporting over land from another state any boat, boat trailer, boating equipment or fishing equipment for use on any water of the state or its bank or shore unless the person drains all water from the boat, boat trailer, boating equipment or fishing equipment, including water in any bilge, ballast tank, bait bucket, live well or other container before entering the state, with certain exceptions.

NR 40.07(3)(b) (b) The department may exempt any vehicle, boat, boat trailer, equipment or gear in writing from par. (a) 1. or 2. if it determines that it will not allow invasive species to be transported to waters of the state.

NR 40.07(3)(c) (c) Paragraph (a) 1. does not apply to dead game fish lawfully taken in another state, as provided by s. 29.047, Stats.

NR 40.07(3)(d) (d) Paragraph (a) 2. does not apply to water in closed engine cooling systems or to tanks or containers of potable drinking water or other beverages meant for human consumption.

NR 40.07(4) (4) Illegal to launch, take off or transport.

NR 40.07(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may place or operate a vehicle, watercraft or other object of any kind in any wetland or non-navigable water of the state if the vehicle, watercraft or other object has an aquatic plant or aquatic animal attached to the exterior.

NR 40.07(4)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the aquatic plant is native duckweed or wild rice.

NR 40.07(4)(c) (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to vehicles, watercraft or other objects while engaged in fire suppression.

NR 40.07(5) (5) Quarantined materials.

NR 40.07(5)(a)(a) No person may transport an identified carrier of an invasive species from a department infestation control zone designated under s. 26.30 (7), Stats., a DATCP quarantine area imposed under s. 94.01, Stats., or a United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service quarantine area declared under 7 USC section 7714 or 7715, for the specific identified invasive species.

NR 40.07 Note Note: Identified carriers of invasive terrestrial invertebrates and plant-disease causing microorganisms most commonly include but are not limited to trees that support life stages of the invasive species. Trees include all parts of a tree including limbs, branches, roots and foliage. Raw forest products such as unprocessed logs, slabs with bark, cut firewood and chips may be considered as carriers. The department does not consider certified firewood to be an identified carrier. Certified firewood is firewood that has been treated by a DATCP-certified firewood dealer using one or more DATCP-approved firewood treatment methods to prevent the spread of invasive pests.

NR 40.07(5)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person who transports an identified carrier of an invasive species from a department infestation control zone designated under s. 26.30 (7), Stats., a DATCP quarantine area imposed under s. 94.01, Stats., or a United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service quarantine area declared under 7 USC section 7714 or 7715, if the person is in compliance with a DATCP-USDA APHIS compliance agreement applicable to the terrestrial invertebrate or plant disease-causing microorganism.

NR 40.07(6) (6) Use of prohibited fish or crayfish as bait. Unless authorized by a permit issued by the department under this chapter, no person may use a prohibited fish invasive species or prohibited crayfish invasive species as bait.