Chapter NR 2

NR 2.19(5)(a)1. 1. A finding which identifies the type of information sought to be assigned confidential status.

NR 2.19(5)(a)2. 2. A determination of whether the department has the authority to compel submittal of the information.

NR 2.19(5)(a)3. 3. If the authority exists, a determination of whether the department is authorized by law to assign confidential status to the type of information at issue.

NR 2.19(5)(a)4. 4. The decision to deny or to grant the request in whole or in part.

NR 2.19(5)(b) (b) A decision to assign confidential status shall be made pursuant to one of the following:

NR 2.19(5)(b)1. 1. Section 285.70, Stats.

NR 2.19(5)(b)2. 2. Section 289.09, Stats.

NR 2.19(5)(b)3. 3. Section 291.15, Stats.

NR 2.19(5)(b)4. 4. Section 293.47, Stats.

NR 2.19(5)(b)5. 5. Section 283.55, Stats.

NR 2.19(5)(b)6. 6. Upon a finding consistent with the ruling in State ex rel. Youmans v. Owens, 28 Wis.2d 672, that confidential treatment of the information is in the public interest.

NR 2.19(5)(b)7. 7. Other specific statutory or common law right to confidential treatment of information.

NR 2.19(5)(c) (c) A decision made pursuant to Youmans shall also include answers to the following questions:

NR 2.19(5)(c)1. 1. How many people have knowledge of the supposedly “secret” information? Will disclosure increase that number to a significant degree?

NR 2.19(5)(c)2. 2. Does the contested information have any value to the possessor? To a competitor? Is that value substantial?

NR 2.19(5)(c)3. 3. What damage, if any, would the possessor of the secret suffer from its disclosure? What advantages would its competitors reap from disclosure?

NR 2.19(5)(c)4. 4. What benefits are likely to flow from disclosure? To whom? Are they significant? In this connection, what is the public “need” for disclosure? Can it be satisfied in any other way?

NR 2.19(5)(d) (d) The definition of “trade secret” in s. 134.90 (1), Stats., is adopted to apply to determinations made pursuant to s. 283.55, Stats.

NR 2.19(5)(e) (e) A decision to approve the request in whole or in part shall be published by the department as a class 1 notice in the official state newspaper, and such other notice as the department deems appropriate shall be provided. The applicant or any interested member of the public may obtain an adjudicatory hearing on the decision to grant the request in whole or in part by petitioning the department for such a hearing within 10 days of publication of the notice. If the decision is to deny the request, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the decision by the department, and shall have 15 days from the date of mailing of the decision to petition the department for an adjudicatory hearing on the decision. A decision to grant confidential status may state a term for which confidential status is granted. Upon expiration of the stated term, the confidential status shall terminate, unless it is renewed upon proper application.

NR 2.19(6) (6) Hearing on the decision.

NR 2.19(6)(a) (a) If the department grants a request under s. 227.42, Stats., for a contested case hearing on the decision to grant or deny confidential status, the department and any interested party may appear and present evidence or testimony supporting its position. A class 1 notice of the hearing shall be published by the department in the official state newspaper, and other notice as the department deems appropriate shall be provided.

NR 2.19(6)(b) (b) The hearing shall be before an administrative law judge and testimony shall be under oath and subject to cross-examination. The burden of establishing the confidential status shall be with the applicant who sought confidential status for the information which is the subject of the hearing.

NR 2.19(6)(c) (c) The administrative law judge shall exercise discretion to determine which individuals may have access to information alleged to be confidential and shall exercise the authority provided by law to impose protective measures and conditions for inspection necessary to safeguard confidentiality of the information during and after the hearing.

NR 2.19(7) (7) Decision following hearing. If a hearing is held, the decision of the administrative law judge shall be the final decision of the department. The decision of the administrative law judge shall be in writing, shall include findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall be provided to all parties to the hearing.

NR 2.19(8) (8) Interim confidential status. Information for which confidential status has been requested shall be kept confidential by the department while it makes its decision under this section. Information for which confidential status has been denied may not be open to public scrutiny until 40 days after issuance of the denial. If the denial is appealed, the information may not be open to public scrutiny until 40 days after completion of all appeals. Additional information supplied by the applicant to support the request for confidentiality shall be treated as confidential if the applicant so requests and the applicant demonstrates that the additional information is entitled to confidential treatment under this section.

NR 2.19 History History: Emerg. cr. eff. 1-1-75; Cr. Register, May, 1975, No. 233, eff. 6-1-75; r, and recr. Register, July, 1978, No. 271, eff. 8-1-78; am. (5) (b) and (e), Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84; corrections in (5) (b), (c) and (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, October, 1999, No. 526; CR 02-046: am. (4), (5) (a), (b), (c) (intro.), (d) and (e), and (6) to (8), r. (9) Register, September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04.

NR 2.195 NR 2.195 Public records and information.

NR 2.195(1) (1) It is vital that the public receive factual information on the affairs of state government through all forms of communication. Whether the information is requested by media representatives or individual citizens, department employees shall assist in securing facts necessary to allow understanding of and participation in government and government agencies.

NR 2.195(2) (2) Department employees are authorized to answer questions within their competency, whether these are asked by the public or by representatives of the news media. Employees are responsible for the factual accuracy of the information they provide. Requests to inspect department records shall be referred to the custodian of the records.

NR 2.195(3) (3) In cases where the regional or bureau directors are concerned that the public interest in withholding inspection outweighs the public interest in permitting it, the file or requested information shall be provided to the secretary, deputy secretary or division administrator for review with the bureau of legal services and for determination.

NR 2.195(4) (4) Regional and bureau directors are designated as custodians of their respective department regional and central office records and files and are delegated the responsibility for them as well as the authority to provide copies or inspection as provided herein.

NR 2.195(5) (5) 

NR 2.195(5)(a) (a) Requests for copies of records and files shall be complied with unless the records fall within the categories in ss. 19.35 (1) (am), 19.356 and 19.36, Stats. The requestor shall pay the copying charge for 10 or more pages. For 9 or fewer pages, there shall be no charge. Copies shall be provided to the requestor as soon as possible.

NR 2.195(5)(b) (b) When a request requires a large amount of copy work, the department may require an advance payment of the copying charge and shall inform the person requesting the copy work that there will be an approximate processing period of 2 weeks. Unusually large requests may take longer than 2 weeks. When the copying work takes 3 or more hours, the person requesting the records shall pay the department an amount equivalent to the salary, including fringe benefits, of the person doing the copying work, prorated for the amount of time the work takes. The person requesting the records may pay the charge for the employee’s salary after the work is completed.

NR 2.195(6) (6) 

NR 2.195(6)(a) (a) All meetings of governmental bodies, including advisory councils, will be open to the communication media and to the public, except where the matters under discussion fall in the categories listed in s. 19.85, Stats.

NR 2.195(6)(b) (b) Department employees are authorized and encouraged to participate in information activities contributing to a better understanding of the functions of state government, including radio and television programs, speeches, group contacts and magazine articles.

NR 2.195 History History: Cr. Register, April, 1980, No. 292, eff. 5-1-80, am. (1) to (5) (a), r. and recr. (5) (b), Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84; CR 02-046: renum. and am. (2) (a) to be (2), r. (2) (b), am. (3) to (6) (a) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04.

NR 2.20 NR 2.20 Review of contested case decision.

NR 2.20(1) (1) Filing. Any party to a contested case who is adversely affected by a final decision rendered after a contested case hearing on the matter may, within 20 days after issuance of the decision, file a written petition for review by the secretary or the secretary’s designee. The petition shall specify in detail the grounds for the review, the relief which petitioner seeks and citation to supporting authorities which petitioner believes aids petitioner’s case. The secretary may not delegate the review to anyone who has had prior involvement in either the hearing or decision-making process.

NR 2.20(2) (2) Service. The petition for review under this section shall be served on the secretary as provided for in s. NR 2.03. Copies of the petition for review shall be served by regular mail upon the administrative law judge and upon all parties to the action.

NR 2.20(3) (3) Decision. Within 14 days of the receipt of the petition, the secretary shall decide whether or not to grant the requested review. If the secretary decides to grant the review, the secretary may order the filing of briefs, presentation of oral argument, or a rehearing of all or part of the evidence presented at the original public hearing, or any combination thereof.

NR 2.20(4) (4) Appeal. A petition for review pursuant to this section is not a prerequisite for appeal or review under ss. 227.52 to 227.53, Stats.

NR 2.20(5) (5) Suspension of decisions. The filing of a petition for review under this section does not suspend or delay the effective date of a decision, and the decision shall take effect on the date of the decision unless another date is set by the department or the administrative law judge, and shall continue in effect unless provisions of the decision are specifically suspended or delayed by the secretary in writing. Petition for suspension of the effective date of a decision shall be clearly specified in the petition for review under this section.

NR 2.20(6) (6) Effect on judicial review. An action pending under this section does not in any manner affect or extend the time limits for filing actions in circuit court for review under ss. 227.52 and 227.53, Stats.

NR 2.20 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1976, No. 242, eff. 3-1-76; am. (1), (2) and (5), cr. (6), Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84; correction in (4) and (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, January, 1987, No. 373; CR 02-046: am. Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04.