NR 150.03(26)(26) “Unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources” means an unsettled disagreement between experts, policymakers of local, state, or tribal governments, or citizen interest groups in Wisconsin concerning a policy affecting the utilization of a substantial natural or physical resource where the utilization would be of sufficient magnitude that, on a statewide or regional basis, it would have a considerable and important impact to the natural resources of the state. To be considered an unresolved conflict concerning alternative uses of available resources, the disagreeing parties must have identified a technically and economically feasible alternative use of the contested physical or natural resource, or both, and have the ability to reasonably implement that alternative. NR 150.03 NoteNote: S. 1.11, Stats. was enacted as ch. 274, laws of 1971, amended by ch. 204, laws of 1973, and is known as the Wisconsin environmental policy act or WEPA. NR 150.03 HistoryHistory: CR 13-022: cr. Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14; correction in numbering in (15) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register March 2014 No. 699; EmR1517: emerg. am. (1), (10), (11), (15) (intro.), cr. (23m), am. (25), (26), eff. 6-10-15; CR 15-037: am. (1), cr. (5m), r. (10), (11), cr. (12m), am. (15) (intro.), cr. (16m), (17m), am. (19), cr. (23m), am. (25), (26) Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16. NR 150.04(1)(a)(a) In accordance with the Wisconsin and national environmental policy acts and regulations issued by the president’s council on environmental quality, it is the intention of the natural resources board to declare a policy that will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony among people and their environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment; and to enrich the understanding of the important ecological systems and natural resources of the state. NR 150.04(1)(b)(b) The board recognizes the potential for impact of many state and federal actions on all components of the human environment. Therefore, the board declares that it is the continuing policy of the department of natural resources, as the primary environmental agency in state government, to develop an understanding of the environmental consequences of its actions and to use all practicable means and measures to create and maintain conditions under which people and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the requirements of present and future generations. NR 150.04(2)(2) In order to carry out the policy set forth under sub. (1), the department shall do all the following: NR 150.04(2)(a)(a) Acknowledge WEPA as an obligation shared by all units of the department to the extent that any unit contemplating regulatory or management actions subject to WEPA review under this chapter shall evaluate and be aware of the environmental consequences of such actions. NR 150.04(2)(b)(b) Recognize its role as an environmental agency in state government and that it shall set an example in meeting the spirit and intent of WEPA. NR 150.04(2)(c)(c) Develop, where possible, agreements and understandings with other state, federal, and local agencies to minimize duplication in meeting environmental review requirements and establish a mechanism for resolution of interagency conflict. NR 150.04(2)(d)(d) Develop appropriate strategic analyses for any issue or policy which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. NR 150.04(2)(e)(e) Develop appropriate environmental effects information and analysis along with a discussion of meaningful alternatives and make this available to the decisionmaker in a timely manner for all actions where such an evaluation is required by this chapter; and recognize that decisions subject to WEPA requirements cannot be made until the appropriate environmental review process is completed. NR 150.04(2)(f)(f) Implement the environmental review procedure as an integrated process, not a separate sequence of activities, that must be part of the initial planning process for department projects and initiated at an early stage of the regulatory review process. NR 150.04(2)(g)(g) Consider the findings of environmental analyses and comments received from the public in making decisions on proposed actions. NR 150.04(2)(h)(h) Recognize that the department has an affirmative duty within its resources to comment on the environmental review documents of other agencies by virtue of its jurisdiction by law, special expertise, or authority. NR 150.04 HistoryHistory: CR 13-022: cr. Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14. NR 150.05NR 150.05 WEPA Coordinator. The department shall designate a qualified staff person as WEPA coordinator to coordinate and oversee performance of WEPA requirements under this chapter. The WEPA coordinator shall do all the following: NR 150.05(1)(1) Advise the department to ensure that it is in compliance with this chapter and s. 1.11, Stats. NR 150.05(2)(2) Participate on behalf of the department in inter-agency WEPA activities. NR 150.05(3)(3) Act as contact for other state, federal and local agencies seeking assistance or opinions on environmental analysis matters. NR 150.05(4)(4) Advise the department and the natural resources board on strategic natural resource issues or policies needing analysis under s. NR 150.10. NR 150.05(5)(5) Prepare and submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature the department’s annual WEPA report required by s. 1.11 (2) (j), Stats. NR 150.05 HistoryHistory: CR 13-022: cr. Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14. NR 150.10(1m)(a)(a) Policies. The department shall conduct a strategic analysis for all new or revised policies if both of the following apply: NR 150.10(1m)(a)1.1. The policy involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. NR 150.10(1m)(a)2.2. The department has substantial discretion in formulating important provisions of the policy. NR 150.10(1m)(c)(c) Other issues or policies. Although not required under this section, the department may use the strategic analysis processes in subs. (2) to (4) for any of the following issues or policies: NR 150.10(1m)(c)3.3. An issue or policy that will likely lead to future department actions that will require an EIS. NR 150.10(1m)(c)4.4. Issues for which there is a high potential for legislation or new department policy. NR 150.10(1m)(c)5.5. Planning and development of controversial resource-oriented projects. NR 150.10(1m)(c)6.6. Any other issue or policy that involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. NR 150.10(2)(a)(a) General requirement. The department shall determine the scope of the analysis, potential alternative approaches, potentially affected natural resources, and likely effects of the alternatives on those resources. The department shall also identify incomplete or unavailable information that is relevant to a reasoned choice among alternatives. NR 150.10(2)(b)(b) Consultation. The department may consult with and obtain the comments of any agency that has expertise with respect to any issue involved. NR 150.10(2)(c)(c) Public scoping. The department shall use a public scoping process. The process may consist of comment periods, meetings, hearings, workshops, surveys, questionnaires, interagency committees, or other appropriate methods or activities, and may be integrated with other public participation requirements. NR 150.10(3)(a)(a) Purpose. The purpose of the analysis is to inform decisionmakers and the public of alternative courses of action and the anticipated effects of those alternatives on the quality of the human environment. NR 150.10(3)(b)(b) Intent. Using available ecological and other scientific information, the analysis shall consider the alternatives and environmental effects in a dispassionate manner and may not advocate a particular position about alternatives. NR 150.10(3)(c)(c) Authorship. Any part of the analysis may be prepared by the department, a consultant to the department, or another state, federal, tribal, or local agency. The department may rely on any relevant information from any source. NR 150.10(3)(d)(d) Format. The document shall follow a format relevant to the scope of the analysis. NR 150.10(3)(e)(e) Presentation. The analysis shall be written in plain language and should use appropriate graphics to aid decisionmakers and the public. 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)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)(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)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 HistoryHistory: 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 150.20NR 150.20 Environmental analysis of department actions. 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)(gm)(gm) Model ordinances developed to assist municipalities in the creation of ordinances. 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)(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)(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.
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