Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 728.03
Section 227.01(3), Stats., defines "contested case" to mean "an agency proceeding in which the assertion by one party of any substantial interest is denied or controverted by another party and in which, after a hearing required by law, a substantial interest of a party is determined or adversely affected by a decision or order." A contested case hearing is only conducted by the department in situations where state statutes allow an aggrieved party to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.