Timeline for the Brule River State Forest – Revised Master Plan

Timeline revised 7-2-01

Inventory of Property and Region--Mapping/GIS Development
(June 1997-August 2001)

• Collect and develop information about the property and the Region
• Make this information available to the public in the form of Fact Sheets, Northern Forest Assessments, and a Regional Analysis

Issues Identification (January 1998-September 1998)

• Contact tribes and local officials; invite public into process (January 7th)
• Build mailing list
• Develop public involvement plan and ask for public review
• Send out opinionnaire to identify past and current issues (April)
• Hold an open house to identify issues, tour the forest and meet the staff (June 6th)
• Hold additional meetings at other locations, if requested
• Report on issues

Vision and Goals (October 1998-May 1999)

• Provide available background information about the property and related resource issues
• Involve the public and tribal representatives in the development of a broad vision statement for the property
• Hold a government to government consultation with tribes to receive input on the Draft Vision Statement and Property Goals
• Distribute draft for comment and review
• Reach general agreement on language for the Draft Vision Statement and Property Goals
• Report on results

Alternatives (June 1999-September 2001)

• Provide information about resource capabilities and alternative solutions to issues, and discuss their impacts
• Involve public in a series of Issue Forum public meetings to share and gather information that will be used as a basis for developing a range of master plan alternatives
• Hold a government to government consultation with tribes to receive input on the draft Alternatives
• Prepare and distribute Alternatives for public and tribal review and comment
• Involve public in a series of meetings around the state to receive input on the Alternatives to be used as a basis for developing the Preferred Alternative
• Write the Preferred Alternative based on public and tribal input and information collected on the property and region
• Hold a government to government consultation with tribes to receive input on the Preferred Alternative
• Distribute Preferred Alternative for tribal and public review and comment
• Hold public meetings to receive input on the Preferred Alternative

Write Master Plan and EIS (October 2001-July 2002)

• Write Draft Master Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) based on the Preferred Alternative, incorporating comments from the public and tribal representatives

45-Day Public Review (August 6 - November 4, 2002)

• Distribute the Draft Master Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 45 day public and governmental review per Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act requirements
• Prepare Summary of Comments
• Plan could be altered based on comments received during the review
• Based on comments, plan may require revisions, additional public discussion and review.
• If necessary, distribute Revised Draft Master Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 45 day public and governmental review

Natural Resources Board (Tentatively December 2002)

• Public comment by registration at formal board meeting
• Review and approval by Natural Resources Board
• Inform public about Board's decision