For purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Carrying capacity" is the acreage required to adequately provide forage for an animal unit (AU) for a specified period without inducing deterioration of vegetation condition or soil;

(2) "Range condition" is the relation between current and potential condition of the range site;

(3) "Animal unit" (AU) is equal to one cow and her nursing calf or their equivalent;

(4) "Sheep unit" is equal to one ewe and her nursing lamb or their equivalent;

(5) "Free use permit" is a permit given in exchange for the use of land that is owned or controlled by a permittee and is within a permit range;

(6) "On and off permit" is a permit issued to an owner of range land within a permit range which authorizes the use of an entire range area but establishes no preference right;

(7) "Bonus bid" is a sum of money offered for a grazing permit on state land in addition to regular annual charges and is to be paid once at the time of the execution of the grazing permit;

(8) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public lands;

(9) "Department" means the department of natural resources as defined in RCW 43.30.030;

(10) "Board" means the board of natural resources as defined in RCW 43.30.040;

(11) "Area" means the field administration unit of the department of natural resources;

(12) "Person" includes any public or private corporation as well as an individual or partnership;

(13) "Base ranch property" means a place on which to hold and feed the permitted units of livestock prior to and after the grazing season;

(14) "Nonuse" means that no livestock will be turned out on the permit range;

(15) "Demit" means that less than ninety percent of the permitted or allowed animal units are turned out on the permit range;

(16) "Crossing permit" is a temporary permit to allow livestock to utilize forage while crossing state-owned or controlled land;

(17) "Operational permit" is a temporary permit to allow horses or pack animals to be on state-owned or controlled land while operating a commercial enterprise.