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On
December 21st WWA alerted Wetland Alert subscribers that a “Senate Select Committee on WDNR Regulatory Reform” had been convened and
would be holding hearings in early January (click
here to see the previous Alert).
Hearings
start TOMORROW (Wednesday, January 4th). Dates and locations are posted at
right; links to recent media coverage of the activities and goals of this
committee follow below. We apologize for the short notice on these
hearings. These dates were announced on December 23rd, after WWA’s office was closed for winter break.
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How You Can Help
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Wetland
delineation and permitting decisions and enforcement of wetland
regulations have consistently been cited by committee leadership as areas
in need of reform and we have reason to believe that draft legislation to
address these concerns may already be circulating.
Please
consider taking the time to testify at one of these hearings, or to submit
comments in support of maintaining WDNR authority to protect wetlands to Senator
Lasee’s website. As
wetland professionals, advocates and enthusiasts, you know where and how
Wisconsin’s laws, regulatory
agencies and elected officials protect, and fail to protect, our wetland resources.
You also understand what’s at stake if those
protections are weakened and what may be needed to improve the
implementation and enforcement of existing laws. Please share your
insights at these hearings and urge this committee to steer
clear of any legislation that facilitates the further degradation or
destruction of Wisconsin’s wetlands.
Please
contact us at 608-250-9971 if you plan to attend a hearing and would like
more information about the issues and concerns under examination by
this committee. We would appreciate receiving copies of any testimony you
submit and, as always, thank you for your support of wetland
conservation.
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Links for More Information & Media Coverage
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For a
better understanding of the dialog on this issue, follow these links:
Click
here to read Senator Zien’s press
release on the need for Committee action on this issue (pdf document).
Click
here for a link to Senator Lasee’s
Wisconsin Public Radio appearance (12/29, 7:00 am).
Click
here for a link to WDNR Secretary Hassett’s Wisconsin Public Radio appearance (1/3/06, 7:00 am).
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Hearing
Dates & Locations
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Wednesday, January 4
Arbor Vitae Town Hall
(in Vilas County near Minocqua and Woodruff)
10672 Big Arbor Vitae Drive
Arbor Vitae, WI 54568
12:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
Click
here for a map.
Thursday, January 5
Rick’s Half-Way Hall
(in Chippewa County) 315 North Main Street
Cadott, WI 54272
11:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
Click
here for a map.
Tuesday, January 10
Brown County Library Auditorium
515 Pine Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
11:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
Click
here for a map.
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