NR 44.04(7)(e)4. 4. Evaluating management and use alternatives.

NR 44.04(7)(f) (f) Prior to the initiation of public involvement, except for public surveys or other preliminary issue identification activities, and prior to the formulation of a plan, including management goals and objectives, a plan revision or a plan amendment, the department shall prepare a public involvement plan conforming with this paragraph and make it available to affected or interested parties for comment. The department may revise the public involvement plan at any time with appropriate notice to affected or interested parties. At a minimum, a public involvement plan shall include the following:

NR 44.04(7)(f)1. 1. A description of the process the department intends to use to obtain and assure reasonable public involvement at appropriate points throughout the planning effort; and

NR 44.04(7)(f)2. 2. A description of the process the department intends to use to identify affected or interested parties and notify them about the planning process. Affected or interested parties may include federal, state or local agencies; other government officials and regional planning commissions; Indian tribes; timber, tourism or any other affected business entities; citizen groups, clubs, committees or individuals who have a demonstrated interest; nearby landowners; and users of the property.

NR 44.04(7)(g) (g) The department shall designate a department employee to be the primary public contact person for each planning process. Concerns or inquiries by any person about the process may be submitted to the contact person who shall have the responsibility to review and respond on behalf of the department.

NR 44.04(7)(h) (h) When initiating the public involvement process, the department shall distribute a news release to appropriate news media in the vicinity of the property or statewide if the property has statewide significance. At a minimum, the news release shall include the following information:

NR 44.04(7)(h)1. 1. A notice of intent to develop, revise or amend a master plan and to prepare an environmental analysis document required by s. 1.11, Stats., or ch. NR 150;

NR 44.04(7)(h)2. 2. A brief description of the property and its location;

NR 44.04(7)(h)3. 3. The scope and objectives of the planning effort and its potential significance to affected or interested parties; and

NR 44.04(7)(h)4. 4. The process by which affected or interested parties may receive information about the planning effort and opportunities to participate in the master planning process.

NR 44.04(7)(i) (i) The department shall maintain a list of persons requesting notification of master plan development, revision, amendment and variance proposals and shall notify them consistent with their request.

NR 44.04(8) (8) Planning procedures.

NR 44.04(8)(a) (a) Following a decision by the board to enter a planning process for a plan, plan revision or plan amendment, after appropriate data gathering and analysis and preparation of a public involvement plan in accordance with sub. (7) (f) and prior to the formulation of a plan, plan revision, plan amendment or the management goals and objectives for a property, the department shall initiate planning with a public involvement process in accordance with sub. (7) (h).

NR 44.04(8)(b) (b) The department procedures described in s. NR 150.30 (1) (f) shall be followed, as appropriate, to identify pertinent issues to be evaluated in the planning process for a plan, plan revision or plan amendment and when preparing any environmental analysis required by ch. NR 150.

NR 44.04(8)(c) (c) When developing a master plan, plan revision or plan amendment the department shall develop and analyze land management, recreational use and facility development alternatives within the context of:

NR 44.04(8)(c)1. 1. The property’s designation, such as state park or state wildlife area;

NR 44.04 Note Note: For example, a state forest master plan must be consistent with the provisions in s. 28.04, Stats., which establish the purposes and benefits of state forests.

NR 44.04(8)(c)2. 2. The best available information regarding the purposes and benefits of the property that the department acquires through inventories, evaluations, monitoring and research; and

NR 44.04(8)(c)3. 3. A regional analysis addressing the economic, ecological and social conditions, opportunities and constraints associated with the property on a local and regional scale. The following shall apply to a regional analysis:

NR 44.04(8)(c)3.a. a. The scope and detail of the regional analysis shall be appropriate to each planning effort as deemed reasonable by the department; and

NR 44.04(8)(c)3.b. b. The regional analysis and the analysis of alternatives may be conducted through an environmental analysis process required by s. 1.11, Stats., or ch. NR 150.

NR 44.04(8)(d) (d) For purposes of this chapter, a “regional analysis” shall be a broad analysis of local and regional factors based upon information that is reasonably available and is supported by credible scientific evidence, and shall, wherever applicable, include an analysis of the following:

NR 44.04(8)(d)1. 1. Land ownership and land use patterns;

NR 44.04(8)(d)2. 2. Cultural resources;

NR 44.04(8)(d)3. 3. Biological diversity, including natural communities and their distribution;

NR 44.04(8)(d)4. 4. Ecological capability data;

NR 44.04(8)(d)5. 5. Recreation resources and their use, capability and demand;

NR 44.04(8)(d)6. 6. Socio-economic conditions and benefits, including local economies; and

NR 44.04(8)(d)7. 7. Other issues germane to managing natural resources and public use, such as, on state forests, sustainable forestry.