The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species (Council) have been working over the last three years to develop administrative rules to identify, classify and control invasive species. They are asking for you to comment on the draft rule.

To view the entire draft rule and the species under consideration, and to comment on them, visit their website at: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/classification/  

Within the website is a description of the draft rule, the draft rule itself, as well as a rule summary, criteria used for assessing the species and a table listing the species under consideration.

In addition, for each species there is a summary of the current literature as relates to the assessment criteria and a compilation of the assessment that was done by a group of experts and stakeholders.

For several of the plants, they are trying to determine if there are parts of the state where they should be listed as "prohibited" (not yet present or only in a few pioneering populations) vs. "restricted" (too widespread to attempt to eradicate). For those species with map icon, please click on the species to see the known distribution map and submit any comments regarding known occurrences of the species in the unshaded areas.

The rules conditionally exempt certain prohibited or restricted invasive species from some restrictions and also allow transportation, possession, transfer or introduction when authorized by a DNR permit. For invasive terrestrial plants, terrestrial invertebrates and plant disease-causing microorganisms, transport, possession, transfer or introduction is not prohibited by the rules if the department reasonably determines that the conduct was accidental.

However, a ban on transportation in another rule in the chapter applies (whether the conduct is accidental or not) to items or materials that may carry a prohibited invasive terrestrial plant, terrestrial invertebrate or plant disease-causing microorganism and that are subject to a quarantine by DNR, DATCP or the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The rules include authority to enter lands for the purpose of inspection, sampling and control of prohibited invasive plant species; allow the department to order landowners to implement control measure, and allow for state control at the landowner’s expense if the landowner is unable or unwilling to comply.

Without being specific as to species, the rules also require preventive measures or limit certain common activities that may function as pathways for the inadvertent introduction or spread of invasive species, unless a permit to engage in the activity has been issued by the department.

If you have an interest in these species or their regulation, please review the website and provide them comments on-line, via e-mail or in person. The deadline for receiving comments is January 25, 2008.

In addition to the website, they will be conducting 6 informal public listening sessions across the state. Each listening session will have the doors open at 5 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m. there will be a general overview of the intent of the draft rule and the process and criteria used to assess each species, as well as the proposed restrictions that apply to each classification.

After answering general questions, they plan to move to individual species group stations where participants can discuss species of concern with DNR staff biologists. They will be asking attendees to fill out comment forms.

• 5:00 Doors Open
• 5:30 General Overview
• 6:00 Individual Species Groups Discussions

DATES and LOCATIONS of the Listening Sessions:

1. January 10, 2008- SPOONER- Spooner Agricultural Research Station W6646 Hwy 70, Spooner, WI
2. January 11, 2008- RHINELANDER (also 2-4)- Learning Resources Center Theater Nicolet College, 5364 College Dr, Rhinelander,
3. January 14, 2008- MADISON- McKay Center, UW Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, WI
4. January 15, 2008- MILWAUKEE- Governors Room, Tommy Thompson Youth Center (Gate 5) Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 South 84th Street, Milwaukee, WI
5. January 16, 2008- GREEN BAY- Brown Co. Central Library Theater, 515 Pine St., Green Bay, WI
6. January 17, 2008- LACROSSE- La Crosse Central High School Commons (Room 126), 1801 Losey S. Blvd., LaCrosse, WI

After they receive comments from stakeholders and interested members of the public from the listening sessions, they will revise the draft rule based on the comments received, prior to seeking Natural Resources Board approval for formal public hearings in early 2008.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, or if you do not have easy access to the internet, please let them know and they can send you the information you are interested in via US mail.

We are trying to get this out to as many stakeholders and interested parties as possible, so please forward it on to others in your industry, organization or anyone else who might be interested.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/classification/

Please mail comments to:
Invasives Rules Comments, ER-6
WDNR, Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921

If you do not have access to the internet, and need to contact the Department, you may call (608) 266-9276.