Standards Development

The Standards Oversight Council (SOC) assists partner agencies in the development of uniform technical standards that protect Wisconsin’s natural resources.

SOC’s unique inter-agency collaboration ensures uniform, science-based technical standards to support a wide variety of federal, state and local conservation programs. The SOC process uses teams of local, state and federal agency researchers, and private sector experts to reach consensus among different interests. Bringing agencies and technical experts together early in the process, and then soliciting input to the drafts by additional practitioners, ensures that the final standards will not only meet the conservation goals, but can be also be readily implemented.

8 revised technical standards published via the Full or Modified Process.

SOC supported its partner custodian agencies—DATCP, WDNR, and NRCS—in publishing 8 technical standards in 2022.

Specific 2022 accomplishments based on work through a SOC modified or full process are featured below.

Custodian agencies published the following technical standards based on work through SOC work teams: NRCS conservation practice standard (CPS) 561 Heavy Use Protection, CPS 627 Wastewater Treatment, Milk House, CPS 632 Waste Separation Facility, CPS 634 Waste Transfer, WDNR

Public reviews yielded

681 comments from 89 reviewers.

150+ attendees at SOC introductory presentations.

1002 Site Evaluation for Storm Water Infiltration, WDNR 1056 Perimeter Sediment Control and Slope Interruption, WDNR 1060 Storm Drain Inlet Protection, and WDNR 1072 Horizontal Directional Drilling. Prior to publication of these standards, the SOC process included a public review and consideration of stakeholder input. Ongoing work continues into 2023 on CPS 328 Conservation Crop Rotation, CPS 380 Windbreak/ Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation, WDNR 1011/1012 Dry Storm Water Basins/Enhanced Dry Treatment System, and WDNR 1013 Enhanced Phosphorus Removal.

If you’d like to stay informed about SOC:

» New work teams

» Public comment periods

» New standard publication

» SOC news

Visit our new website and sign up for SOC emails at socwisconsin.org.

800+ participants in standard-related trainings supported by SOC.

52 SOC work team members from

29 different employers