Two Republican lawmakers from the Fox Cities want to eliminate the rule that developers get a permit from the DNR to build on wetlands.
Sen. Roger Roth of Appleton and Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke of Vandenbroek are working on a bill. Developers would still have to replace any wetlands they fill.
The current law calls for them to create 1.2 acres for every acre they eliminate. Steineke says it was important to keep that protection in place.
Steineke says the change would only impact isolated wetlands. He says they’re not connected to rivers or lakes. He says they’re not what people have in mind when they think about wetlands.
The lawmakers say their proposal would cut red tape.
