SS 040-23 Notice of Preliminary Hearing

Notice of Preliminary Hearing on Statement of Scope

The Department of Natural Resources announces that it will hold a preliminary public hearing on Statement of Scope SS 040-23 which affects ch. NR 47, and is related to federal funding for the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program, at the virtual time and place shown below.

Hearing Information

Date:   August 21, 2023

Time:   11 a.m.

Virtual Location Link: Online through Teams or by phone at 1-608-571-2209, phone conference ID 4681127#

Rule Information: This statement of scope would allow the department to pursue an emergency rule to modify current procedures for the administration of the department’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Grant Program. The goal of these modifications would be to facilitate the disbursement of $4 million of H.R. 5376 - 117th Congress: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 Subtitle D, section 23003 funding that the department has been allocated to supplement the UCF Grant Program. Proposed rule changes include introducing match waivers for grantees, establishing an advance payment of no more than 50% of the grant upon award to all grantees, allowing annual reimbursement for multi-year projects, and increasing the maximum grant award amount. This funding will support the maintenance and expansion of tree canopy in rural and urban communities across the state, and therefore increase the health, economic, social, and environmental benefits provided by tree canopy.

Accessibility

For the hearing or visually impaired, non-English speakers, or those with other personal circumstances which might make communication at the meeting/hearing difficult, DNR will, to the maximum extent possible and with reasonable advance notice, provide aids including an interpreter, or a non-English, large-print, or recorded version of hearing documents. To access these resources, please contact the email address or phone number listed below as soon as possible.

Appearances at the Hearing and Submittal of Written Comments

The public has the opportunity to testify at the hearing. Registration will take place at the hearing by completing a Hearing Appearance form, which is available here https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/forms/8300/8300-014.pdf. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged if you plan to provide spoken comments during the hearing. To pre-register, please download and complete the fillable Hearing Appearance form and send it to [e-mail].

Comments on the proposed scope statement must be received on or before August 21, 2023. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail, E-mail, or through the internet and will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearing.

Written comments and any questions on the proposed scope statement should be submitted to:

 

Department of Natural Resources

Attn: Laura Buntrock

107 Sutliff Avenue,

Rhinelander, WI 54501

[e-mail]

[phone]

The scope statement may be viewed at: https://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/ProposedEmergency.html

Comments can be made at: [e-mail]

The scope statement may be reviewed, and comments made at: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/scope_statements/comment.