The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host a webinar on June 26 at 2 p.m. as part of the implementation of a new law that effects projects impacting some Wisconsin wetlands. The law, Act 183, will go into effect on July 1 and establishes permit exemptions on placing fill material in certain types of wetlands. The webinar will explain the exemptions and help to clarify the process for claiming an exemption.
Before placing fill material in nonfederal or artificial wetlands, Act 183 requires stakeholders to notify the DNR to confirm eligibility. One exemption is for "artificial wetlands," which are those that have no wetland or stream history prior to August 1, 1991 and have been modified by human activity that changed the landscape. There are many qualified professionals that can assist stakeholders in determining if a wetland is potentially an artificial wetland. DNR also offers a wetland identification service that can also assist with this determination. More information about the artificial wetland exemption can be found by searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for "wetland identification."
The other exemption is for "nonfederal wetlands," which are those that are not subject to federal oversight. The Army Corps of Engineers is the only government entity that can determine if a wetland falls under federal jurisdiction. For this reason, the corps will be an integral partner to determining eligibility for nonfederal wetland exemptions.
The webinar will provide an overview of the new law and explain how to apply for the appropriate exemption. The link for the webinar can be found by searching the DNR website for "wetland disturbance." Anyone interested in participating on the webinar can register in advance of the webinar and can use the link provided to sign in on the day of the webinar. The webinar will also be recorded and made available on the same page of the DNR website.
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