Section 61.17.2. Definitions.

As used in these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:

“Affected landowner” means a landowner who has received notice of a preliminary wetlands designation from the Iowa department of natural resources.

“Director” means the director of the mediation service or the designee of the director.

“DNR” means the Iowa department of natural resources.

“Farm borrower” means a borrower who is any of the following:

        1.            An individual operating a farm as a sole proprietorship or as a member of a partnership;

        2.            A family farm corporation as defined in Iowa Code section 172C.1(8);

        3.            An authorized farm corporation as defined in Iowa Code section 172C.1(9).

“Mediation agreement” means a written agreement between the parties to a mediation meeting.

“Participate”  or “participation”  in a mediation involving the designation of wetlands means that the DNR’s representative attends the mediation meeting, listens to the affected landowner and the landowner’s representative, and discusses the following: the definitions of wetlands and protected wetlands, the criteria for designation of protected wetlands, and the reasons why the department designated all or a portion of the affected landowner’s land as protected wetlands.

“Preliminary wetlands designation” means the notice sent by certified mail to affected landowners informing the landowners that a portion of their land has been designated by the department of natural resources as a protected wetland.

“Send” means to mail by first-class mail, or certified or registered mail.

“Tentative agreement” means a written agreement reached by the parties in the course of the mediation meeting or meetings.