DOC 335.01DOC 335.01 Authority. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of ss. 1.11 and 227.11 (2), Stats., to implement the Wisconsin environmental policy act, s. 1.11, Stats., insofar as proposed major actions of the department may significantly affect the quality of the environment of human beings. The chapter provides for a process of agency decision-making in public which depends on, although it is not necessarily determined by, thorough, objective analysis of the effects of a proposed action on the environment and of alternatives to such an action.

DOC 335.02DOC 335.02 Applicability. The criteria, procedures, and other parts of this chapter apply to all staff of the department and to all proposed actions of the department which may significantly affect the quality of the environment of human beings.

DOC 335.03DOC 335.03 Purpose. This chapter shall:

DOC 335.03(1)(1) Provide principles, objectives, definitions, criteria, and procedures to be used by the department to implement s. 1.11, Stats. Implementation includes identification and evaluation of proposed actions; study, development, and description of alternatives for those proposed actions that involve unresolved conflicts in the use of available resources; and preparation and review of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements;

DOC 335.03(2)(2) Ensure that high-quality environmental information, deriving from sound analysis of the likely consequences for the environment of major actions and from the development of alternatives, is available to department managers and citizens before decisions are made;

DOC 335.03(3)(3) Ensure that department staff who make decisions or contribute to decisions understand and consider potential environmental consequences of proposed actions and attempt to minimize the adverse consequences of these actions; and

DOC 335.03(4)(4) Facilitate public scrutiny and understanding of proposed actions of the department that may significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

DOC 335.04DOC 335.04 Definitions. As used in this chapter:

DOC 335.04(1)(1) “Action” means any activity initiated or otherwise undertaken by the department, including a proposal for legislation, which may affect the quality of the environment of human beings.

DOC 335.04(2)(2) “Alternatives” means actions other than the proposed action which may be reasonably available to achieve the same or altered purpose of the proposed action, including the alternative of no action.

DOC 335.04(5)(5) “Environmental assessment” or “EA” means a concise public document prepared by or at the direction of the department which provides sufficient evidence and analysis concerning a proposed type II action to enable the department to determine whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or issue a finding of no significant impact, and it includes the study, development and description of alternatives.

DOC 335.04(6)(6) “Environmental impact statement” or “EIS” means a detailed, written analytical report prepared by or at the direction of the department, which describes the anticipated effects on the environment of a proposed major action. An “EIS” is meant to adequately inform department decisionmakers and the public about the environmental consequences of an action in a way that will assist and guide decisionmaking.

DOC 335.04(8)(8) “Finding of no significant impact” means a conclusion of an environmental assessment that the proposed action is not a major action which will significantly affect the quality of the human environment and that preparation of an EIS is therefore not required.