ACTION ALERT

Jt. Committee for Review of Administrative Rules to take public testimony on shoreland zoning and runoff management rules

The Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules will hold a public hearing on July 26, 2011 from 11am until 5pm in the Gymnasium of the Minocqua Community Center, 415 Menominee Street in Minocqua. The hearing will cover the state's shoreland zoning rules (NR115), as well as rules regarding runoff management (NR151).

The shoreland zoning rules were enacted in their revised form nearly a year and a half ago as the result of a compromise worked out between the state, Wisconsin Lakes, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, the Wisconsin Builders Association and the Wisconsin County Code Administrators. Counties have until Feb 1, 2012 to ensure their zoning code is up to at least the minimum standards of the rule. Republican legislators, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and the Walker administration have all indicated previously that these rules would be reviewed at some point, so the hearing does not come as a surprise.

Wisconsin Lakes, as an organization deeply involved in the ten years of negotiation and compromise that led to the current standards, continues to support NR115 as currently enacted. We believe the rules should be given time to be fully implemented before being reviewed.

NR151, the Runoff Management Rule, became embroiled in the state budget process (and should not be confused with NR217, the phosphorus standards that were also implicated in the budget). This rule, often referred to as the "stormwater rule" or the "ag runoff rule" defines agricultural performance standards and prohibitions, non-ag performance standards, transportation facility performance standards, and a process for the development and dissemination of non-ag technical standards. We presume they are a subject of this hearing as fallout from that effort.  

In fact, the attention on these two rules, the move to suspend the phosphorus standards and the rumors of coming review of other well established rules and statutes seem to arise from political motives more than any real concern for the conservation and economic impact of our lake and water resources.

Wisconsin Lakes encourages all of its members to educate themselves about these important issues and participate in the political process by attending hearings such as this one and letting their voice be heard.

For more information on NR115, please see our website for more information at http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/local_shorelandzoning.html

For information on the Joint Committee on Rules and Regulations, click here.