Runoff Management Program
Administrative Rules

History and Background

Through provisions in 1997 Act 27 and 1999 Act 9, the Legislature directed the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop performance standards to control polluted runoff from non-agricultural activities, to develop performance standards and prohibitions for agricultural activities through cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), including four manure management prohibitions developed through a previous advisory committee effort, and to make other changes to address polluted runoff problems from rural and urban sources.

In response to these directives, the DNR and DATCP undertook a redesign of their nonpoint source programs. The Department of Commerce and the Department of Transportation worked with the DNR to develop non-agricultural and transportation performance standards. A diverse advisory committee provided feedback and recommendations during the design process. The redesign is the result of years of discussion and consideration given to the views of citizens from throughout the state: farmers, city dwellers, business operators, contractors, educators, researchers, and government representatives.

One controversial aspect of the rulemaking process revolved around the issue of mandatory buffers. The DNR will develop a buffer performance standard by the end of 2007 based on research conducted by the University of Wisconsin between now and 2005. This proposal was a compromise between interests for and against a mandatory buffer performance standard and addresses a Senate Environmental Resources Committee request to consider a mandatory standard.

• Background Memo [PDF 62KB] - includes a summary of the enabling legislation, the rule development process, a brief description of each rule and a synopsis of the public hearings.
  

  Public Hearings: A total of 34 public hearings in 17 locations around the state were held in 2000 and 2001. Department staff made significant revisions to the draft rules based on more than 4,000 verbal and written comments presented during the comment period. The resulting drafts of these rules were presented to the Natural Resources Board that adopted them at the January, 2002 meeting.

• Environmental Assessment [PDF 112KB] - describes the environmental effects of the rules.
• Regulatory Flexibility Analysis [PDF 34KB] - describes the impacts of the nonpoint rules upon small businesses in Wisconsin.
  

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