Chapter NR 150

NR 150.10(4)(a) (a) Document publication. The department shall publicly announce that the analysis is available for public comment and shall make the analysis available to the governor, legislature, local governments, other concerned state agencies, federal agencies, tribal agencies, natural resources board, department secretary and administrators, and the public as required by s. NR 150.50. Copies of the analysis shall be provided to any individual or group requesting a copy. A charge may be assessed to cover reproduction and handling costs for requests for paper copies of documents. The announcement also may be distributed to any of the following entities:

NR 150.10(4)(a)1. 1. All local and regional units of government that may be affected by the issue or policy.

NR 150.10(4)(a)2. 2. Regional and statewide information outlets.

NR 150.10(4)(a)3. 3. Groups, clubs, committees, or individuals which have demonstrated an interest and have requested receipt of this type of information.

NR 150.10(4)(a)4. 4. All participants in the scoping process not covered in subds. 1 to 3.

NR 150.10(4)(b) (b) Public announcement content. The public announcement shall include a brief description of the analysis, the date by which public comments on the analysis must be received by the department, the name and address of a contact within the department who will receive comments and respond to questions, and the locations where copies of the analysis are available for review.

NR 150.10(4)(c) (c) Public comment period.

NR 150.10(4)(c)1. 1. Unless otherwise provided by law, the department shall provide a minimum of 45 days after the date the analysis is publicly announced to receive comments from other agencies and the public.

NR 150.10(4)(c)2. 2. Unless otherwise provided by law, the department may grant reasonable requests from any person to extend the comment period for the analysis.

NR 150.10(4)(c)3. 3. If a hearing is held under par. (d), the public comment period shall be extended for a minimum of 7 days after the date the hearing is held.

NR 150.10(4)(d) (d) Hearing. The department may hold one or more public hearings on the analysis in the manner and locations that the department deems appropriate to the scope of the analysis. Any hearings held shall be announced to the public in a manner that the department deems appropriate.

NR 150.10(4)(e) (e) Consideration of public comments. Following the public comment period, the department shall summarize and consider all comments received within the public comment period. The department may revise the analysis based on comments received. The comment summary shall be made public pursuant to s. NR 150.50 along with the final version of the analysis and any supporting documents.

NR 150.10 History History: CR 13-022: cr. Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14; correction in numbering in (1), (1m), (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., (1), (2) (a) (title) added under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., corrections in (2) (a) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register March 2014 No. 699; EmR1517: emerg. am. (1), (1m) (a), r. (1m) (b), am. (1m) (c) (intro.), (2) (a), eff. 6-10-15; CR 15-037: am. (1), (1m) (a), r. (1m) (b), am. (1m) (c) (intro.), (2) (a) Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16.

NR 150.20 NR 150.20 Environmental analysis of department actions.

NR 150.20(1) (1) Purpose. This section establishes the procedures to fulfill the requirements of s. 1.11 (2) (c), Stats.

NR 150.20(1m) (1m) Minor actions. The following actions do not require environmental analysis under this chapter because they are minor actions:

NR 150.20(1m)(a) (a) A real estate action, including property boundary establishment or modification, purchase, sale, easement, lease, designation, redesignation, or dedication.

NR 150.20(1m)(b) (b) Development or construction of new department facilities that follows protocols.

NR 150.20(1m)(c) (c) Natural resource management, timber management, or environmental restoration that follows protocols.

NR 150.20(1m)(d) (d) The operation, repair, maintenance, removal, or in-kind replacement of existing department facilities that follows protocols.

NR 150.20(1m)(e) (e) A research action that does not involve species introductions or substantive manipulation of resources, or that does involve species introductions or substantive manipulation of resources but follows protocols for doing so.

NR 150.20(1m)(f) (f) A natural resource inventory or mapping action.

NR 150.20(1m)(g) (g) Issuance of a grant or other financial assistance action.

NR 150.20(1m)(ge) (ge) Educational activities.

NR 150.20(1m)(gm) (gm) Model ordinances developed to assist municipalities in the creation of ordinances.

NR 150.20(1m)(gs) (gs) Consultation offered to third parties.

NR 150.20(1m)(h) (h) Issuance of high capacity well approvals under s. 281.34 (2), Stats., except for wells under s. 281.34 (4), Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(i) (i) Issuance of high capacity well approvals under s. 281.34 (4), Stats., that are exempted from environmental analysis requirements under s. NR 820.30 (2) and (3).

NR 150.20(1m)(j) (j) Reissuance, modification, revocation, and reissuance, or issuance of a routine or small-scale approval or action.

NR 150.20(1m)(jg) (jg) Routine variances from department rule requirements.

NR 150.20(1m)(jr) (jr) Denial, termination, revocation, or suspension of a grant, permit, license, approval, variance, land application site, or of any proposed activity.

NR 150.20(1m)(k) (k) A routine or small-scale approval or action, or an approval or action associated with a permit.

NR 150.20(1m)(L) (L) Confirmation of coverage under a general permit.

NR 150.20(1m)(m) (m) Promulgation of emergency administrative rules under ch. 227, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(n) (n) Any enforcement action.

NR 150.20(1m)(nm) (nm) Any emergency action that protects public health, safety, or welfare.

NR 150.20(1m)(o) (o) Issuance of a minor source construction permit under ch. NR 406 or an operation permit renewal or revision under ss. 285.60 and 285.62, Stats., for air emission sources.

NR 150.20(1m)(p) (p) Issuance of licenses for servicing septage and approvals of county programs to regulate the disposal of septage under s. 281.48, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(pe) (pe) Issuance of operator certifications under s. 281.17 (3), Stats., and licenses or registrations for well drillers and pump installers.

NR 150.20(1m)(pm) (pm) Approvals of geothermal heat exchange projects.

NR 150.20(1m)(ps) (ps) Approvals of additives to wastewater or cooling water.

NR 150.20(1m)(q) (q) Issuance of general permits established by administrative code under ch. 30, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(qm) (qm) Issuance of aquatic plant management permits under ch. NR 109.

NR 150.20(1m)(r) (r) Listing and delisting of an impaired water as defined in s. NR 151.002 (16m).

NR 150.20(1m)(s) (s) Review and approval of municipal ordinances or approval of changes to municipal floodplain or shoreland-wetland maps.

NR 150.20(1m)(sc) (sc) Temporary drawdowns of dams under s. 31.02, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(sg) (sg) Reconstruction and repairs of dams under ss. 31.12, 31.18, or 31.185, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(sL) (sL) Transfer of dam ownership under s. 31.14, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(sp) (sp) Dam inspections under s. 31.19, Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(st) (st) Plan approvals for dams under s. 31.33, Stats., and approvals of emergency action plans, inspection plans, operation and maintenance plans, dam failure analysis plans, or stability analysis plans under ch. NR 333.

NR 150.20(1m)(sx) (sx) Review and approval of hydrologic and hydraulic studies for floodplain mapping under s. NR 116.07.

NR 150.20(1m)(t) (t) Approval of construction plans and specifications under s. 281.41, Stats., for municipal and industrial pretreatment wastewater facilities, public water systems, and CAFO reviewable structures.

NR 150.20(1m)(u) (u) Decisions related to evaluations of existing reviewable facilities and systems for concentrated animal feeding operations under ch. NR 243.

NR 150.20 Note Note: This subsection does not include the concentrated animal feeding operations permit actions identified as integrated analysis actions pursuant to s. NR 150.20(2) (a) 3w.

NR 150.20(1m)(ug) (ug) Approvals of land application or nutrient management plans or modifications to the plans.

NR 150.20(1m)(ur) (ur) Approvals of land application sites.

NR 150.20(1m)(v) (v) Issuance of natural heritage inventory permits, approvals, or licenses under ch. NR 29 except for permits issued under s. 29.604 (6m), Stats.

NR 150.20(1m)(w) (w) Issuance of an order or any action relating to the forest croplands or managed forest land programs under subch. I or VI of ch. 77, Stats.

NR 150.20(2) (2) Integrated analysis actions.

NR 150.20(2)(a) (a) The following actions do not require a separate environmental analysis process under this chapter because they are integrated analysis actions:

NR 150.20(2)(a)1. 1. Property planning under ch. NR 44.

NR 150.20(2)(a)2. 2. County forest planning under s. 28.11 (5), Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)2g. 2g. Approval of a withdrawal of county forest land under s. 28.11 (11), Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)2r. 2r. Cooperative state trail planning.

NR 150.20(2)(a)3. 3. Areawide water quality management planning or priority watershed planning under ch. NR 121.

NR 150.20(2)(a)3c. 3c. Development of total maximum daily loads as defined in s. NR 151.002 (46m).

NR 150.20(2)(a)3g. 3g. Issuance, reissuance, revocation and reissuance, or modification of a WPDES permit that authorizes a new source discharge that is subject to antidegradation review under ch. NR 207.

NR 150.20(2)(a)3n. 3n. Approval of a variance from a water quality standard under ch. 283, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)3r. 3r. An approval of a municipal wastewater facilities plan under s. NR 110.08, and approvals of municipal wastewater projects receiving federal grants or state financial assistance under ss. 281.58 and 281.59, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)3w. 3w. Issuance, reissuance, revocation and reissuance, or modification of an individual WPDES permit for a concentrated animal feeding operation under ch. NR 243 that is a new source.

NR 150.20(2)(a)4. 4. Issuance of a major source construction permit under ch. NR 405 or 408 or an initial operation permit under ss. 285.60 and 285.62, Stats., for air emission sources.

NR 150.20(2)(a)6. 6. An incidental take permit under ch. NR 27 and s. 29.604 (6m), Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)7. 7. A solid waste feasibility approval or a commercial PCB waste storage or treatment facility feasibility approval under ss. 289.25 and 289.53, Stats., and chs. NR 157, 182, and 512.

NR 150.20(2)(a)7e. 7e. Funding decisions made pursuant to ch. 292, Stats., and chs. NR 700 to 754.

NR 150.20(2)(a)7m. 7m. Issuance of regulatory approvals, liability clarification letters, exemptions, and technical assistance under ch. 292, Stats., and chs. NR 700 to 754.

NR 150.20(2)(a)7s. 7s. Except for facilities specified in s. 291.27, Stats., the approval of a feasibility and plan of operation report and issuance of a license for either a new or existing hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility or class 3 modification of an existing hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility under ch. NR 670 and s. 291.25, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)8. 8. Issuance of an individual wetland permit or general permit under s. 281.36, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)9. 9. Approval of a bulkhead line ordinance for modification of an existing shoreline under s. 30.11, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)10. 10. Issuance of findings of public interest under s. 30.11 (5), Stats., for a proposed lease of the bed of a lake or lease of rights to fill in a bed of a lake or a navigable stream.

NR 150.20(2)(a)11. 11. Issuance of an individual permit, general permit, certification, or contract under subchapter II of ch. 30, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)12. 12. Issuance of an individual permit or general permit under s. 30.19, Stats., including permits to construct or alter waterways.

NR 150.20(2)(a)13. 13. Issuance of an individual permit or general permit to change the course of or enclose a navigable stream under s. 30.195 or 30.196, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)14. 14. Issuance of an individual permit, general permit, or contract under s. 30.20, Stats., to remove material from the bed of a navigable waterway under ch. NR 345, or for non-metallic mining and reclamation in and near navigable waters under ch. NR 340.

NR 150.20(2)(a)15. 15. Issuance of a barge fleeting permit under ch. NR 327.

NR 150.20(2)(a)16. 16. Issuance of a permit, order, or approval for water levels or flows, or for the regulation of a dam in navigable or nonnavigable waters under ch. 31, Stats., and ch. NR 333.

NR 150.20(2)(a)17. 17. An approval of a drainage board action affecting navigable waters under s. 88.31, Stats., for permits under s. 88.31 or ch. 30 or 31, Stats.

NR 150.20(2)(a)18m. 18m. Issuance of a report under s. 13.097, Stats., that includes the required department findings under s. 13.097 (4), Stats., and conclusions under s. 13.097 (6), Stats., regarding whether legislation that proposes to convey lake bed or amend a prior conveyance of lake bed area is consistent with protecting and enhancing a public trust purpose.

NR 150.20(2)(a)19m. 19m. Review of existing or proposed uses for an existing lakebed grant, existing lease of the bed of a lake, or existing lease of rights to fill in a bed of a lake or a navigable stream to ensure the existing or proposed uses are consistent with the purposes and uses for which the grant or lease was issued.

NR 150.20(2)(a)20. 20. Issuance of an aquatic plant management permit under s. NR 107.05 that meets the criteria under s. NR 107.04 (3).