Forest insects and diseases; department jurisdiction; procedure
Wis. Stat. § 26.30
in effect(1) Purpose. It is the public policy of the state to control forest pests on or threatening forests of the state in order to protect the forest resources, promote good forest management, enhance the growth and maintenance of forests, promote stability of forest-using industries, aid in fire control by reducing the menace created by dying and dead trees, conserve forest cover on watersheds and protect wildlife, recreational values and other values of the forest.
(2) Powers. The department is vested with authority and jurisdiction in all matters relating to the prevention, detection and control of forest pests on the forest lands of the state, and to do all things necessary in the exercise of such authority and jurisdiction, except that this shall not be construed to grant any powers or authority to the department for the silvicultural control of forest pests on any land. This section shall apply only to the detection and control of forest pests on forest lands and does not affect the authority of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under chs. 93 and 94. The action of the department under sub. (4) shall be coordinated with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection in accordance with s. 20.901. The secretaries of natural resources and agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall execute annually a memorandum of agreement to enable the coordination of pest control work of their departments.
(3) Definitions. As used in this section:
(a) “Control” includes prevent, retard, suppress, eradicate or destroy.
(b) “Control zone” means an area of land which, in the judgment of the department, constitutes a present or potential forest pest breeding ground of a nature to be harmful, detrimental and injurious to permanent forest growth in the district or zone upon which control measures are justified.
(c) “Forest pest” means any insect or disease which is harmful, injurious or destructive to forests or timber.
(d) “Forests” or “forest lands” mean any area on which trees exist, standing or down, alive or dead, actually or potentially valuable for forest products, watershed or wildlife protection or recreational uses in contrast to shade, horticulture or ornamental trees valuable for landscape, agricultural, aesthetic or similar purposes.
(e) “Infestation” includes actual, potential, incipient or emergency infestation or infection by forest pests.
(4) Surveys, investigations and control. The department shall make surveys and investigations to determine the presence, condition and extent of infestations and it shall also carry on control measures when necessary. For such purposes the department or its wardens may enter public and private lands at reasonable times without incurring a liability to anyone.
(5) Cooperative agreements. To carry out the purposes of this section the department may enter into arrangements or agreements with the University of Wisconsin System, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, other departments of this and other states, the U.S. department of agriculture and other federal agencies and with counties, towns, corporations and individuals.
(6) Responsibility of forest landowners. Every owner of forest lands or timber shall exercise every reasonable effort to control and destroy forest pests on forest lands or timber owned by or under the control of the owner. In case of the owner’s failure, neglect or inability to do so, the work may be performed as provided in this section.
(6m) Gypsy moth suppression.
(a) If the department establishes a program for the suppression of gypsy moths, and that program includes the awarding and administering of federal cost-sharing funds to counties for aerial insecticide treatment, the department shall promulgate rules to implement the program. The rules shall specify that an area is not eligible for aerial insecticide treatment under the program unless the area is at least 20 compact and contiguous acres in size.
(ag) The rules promulgated under par. (a) shall require that an eligible applicant for funding provide notification to landowners and tenants within the eligible proposed treatment blocks and within an area surrounding those blocks to be determined by the applicant. Notification under this paragraph shall include all of the following:
1. Publication of a class 1 notice under ch. 985 in a local newspaper at least 10 days before a deadline, as designated by the applicant for funding in the notice, for registering an objection by a landowner or tenant to treatment on the land under the landowner’s or tenant’s control.
2. Issuance of a press release at least 10 days before the deadline for objections under subd. 1. that announces the public meeting under subd. 3.
3. Holding of a public meeting by the applicant for funding at least 7 days before the deadline for objections under subd. 1.
(ar) The published notice and press release under par. (ag) shall provide information on the location of proposed treatment blocks, the insecticide to be used, the approximate timing of treatment, the method for registering an objection to the treatment of property, and the name, address, and phone number of the applicant for funding or the applicant’s designee.
(av) The published notice under par. (ag) 1. and the press release under par. (ag) 2. shall state, and a statement shall be made at the public meeting under par. (ag) 3., that all of the following apply:
1. If a landowner or tenant registers a timely objection to treatment on land under the landowner’s or tenant’s control, the applicant for funding may not treat that land.
2. If a landowner or tenant does not register a timely objection to treatment on land under the landowner’s or tenant’s control, the applicant for funding may treat that land.
(b) Subsections (7) to (10) do not apply to a gypsy moth suppression program established under this subsection.
(7) Designation of infestation control zones.
(a) Whenever the department finds that an area in the state is infested or threatened with infestation by forest pests, it shall determine whether proven measures of control are needed and are available at reasonable cost with respect to the value of the forest lands or timber to be protected and the area affected. Such control measures may be applied through cooperative agreements as provided in subs. (5) and (8) or the department may designate a proposed zone of infestation covering the area in which control measures are to be applied. When a proposed zone of infestation is designated and before the establishment thereof, the department shall hold a public hearing thereon. Notice of such hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the county covered in whole or in part by the proposed zone as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985. The notice shall contain a description of the lands included in the proposed zone of infestation and a time and place where owners of forest lands in the proposed zone may show cause orally or in writing why the zone should or should not be established. The department shall consider any statements received in determining whether the zone shall be established. If the department determines that a zone should be established it shall issue an order establishing the zone of infestation.
(b) Upon the establishment of a zone of infestation by the department, notice thereof shall be published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the area affected by such zone as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985.
(c) When the department finds that an emergency condition exists and that the delays necessitated by the procedure outlined in pars. (a) and (b) would result in an epidemic or infestation, it may by order establish a zone of infestation without public hearing, giving such notice as it deems feasible.
(8) Department to control infestation if owner fails to act. Upon the establishment of a zone of infestation, the department shall apply measures of control on public and private forest lands within the established zone if the owner fails, refuses, neglects or is unable to undertake adequate control measures. The department shall endeavor to enter into agreements with owners of forest lands concerning the control work on their lands and fixing a proportional basis on which the costs of such work will be shared between the state and such owner. Failure of the department to offer an agreement to or execute an agreement with any owner shall not relieve the owner of any liability under this section or impair the right of the department to enter on the lands of said owner to conduct control operations.
(9) Distribution and collection of costs.
(a) At the completion of the control measures in any area, or at the end of the calendar year, the department shall prepare a certified statement of the expenses incurred in carrying out such measures including expenses of owners covered by agreements pursuant to sub. (8) but these charges shall not include salary or expenses of regular permanent or seasonal personnel of the department, or operating costs for such regular equipment as may be owned or purchased by the department for insect pest control work. The statement shall show the amount which the department determines to be the state’s share of the expenses, but this amount shall not be less than 50 percent of the balance of such expenses incurred on forest lands after federal funds allocated to a specific control project have been deducted. The share of the state may include any federal aid funds and the value of contributions made available by other cooperators. The balance of such costs shall constitute a charge on an acreage basis against the owners of lands in the area affected by the forest pests for which control measures were conducted. In fixing the rates at which charges shall be made against each owner, the department shall consider present values and the present and potential benefits to such owner and to the state as a whole from the application of control measures, the cost of applying such measures to the owner’s land, and other such factors as in the discretion of the department will enable it to determine an equitable distribution of the costs to all such owners. No charge shall be made against owners to the extent that they have individually or collectively contributed funds, supplies or services pursuant to agreement, and 160 acres or less of forest land owned by any person within any county shall be exempt from any control cost.
(b) As soon as the expenses incurred by the state in forest pest control work have been paid by the secretary of administration, the department shall send to each landowner a bill covering an equitable share of such expenses as herein provided.
1. When such work has been performed on county lands, the department shall send to the proper county treasurer a bill for the county’s share of such expenses and a copy of the bill shall be filed with the department of administration. The county shall have until October 1 of each year to pay such bill. If payment is not made by October 1 of each year, the secretary of state, upon information certified to the secretary of state by the department of administration, shall include such amount as a part of the next levy against the county for state taxes, but no county shall be required to pay more than $5,000 of such amount in any one year. Any unpaid levy under this section shall remain a charge against the county and the secretary of state shall include such unpaid sums in the state tax levy of the respective counties in subsequent years.
2. When such work has been performed on other public or private lands the department shall certify to such owner the claim of the state in writing and list the items of expense incurred in such pest control work. Such claims shall be paid within 60 days and, if not paid within such time, the state may begin an action thereon at any time within 2 years.
3. If any claim is not paid within 60 days, the state may file a mechanics’ lien within 6 months after the 60-day period expires against the land affected in accordance with ch. 779, and shall have the necessary remedies to enforce the lien.
(10) Dissolution of infestation control zones. Whenever the department finds that forest pest control within an established zone of infestation is no longer necessary or feasible it shall set aside the order establishing the zone.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/26.30Fetched: 10/7/2026