The following definitions are applicable to RCW 79.01.301 and these rules shall be used in connection with applications, reports, leases, and other documents issued in connection therewith:

(1) "Department" shall mean the department of natural resources.

(2) "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of public lands.

(3) "Board" shall mean the board of natural resources as established by chapter 38, Laws of 1957 (chapter 43.30 RCW).

(4) "Proper office" shall mean the authorized office of the department of natural resources in Olympia, Washington.

(5) "Grazing land" shall mean those granted trust lands which at the present are used primarily for grazing.

(6) "Irrigated agricultural lands" shall mean any lands under irrigation which are used for the production of any agricultural commodities.

(7) "Public land" shall mean those lands conveyed to the state of Washington by the federal government and managed in trust by the department for the support of common schools, university purposes, agricultural college purposes, scientific school purposes, state normal school purposes, the erecting of public buildings at the state capitol, and for state charitable, educational, penal and reformatory institution purposes.

(8) "Low priority land" shall mean that grazing or nonirrigated land which may appear to have its highest potential for maximizing returns when used as irrigated agricultural land.

(9) "Public interest" shall mean the interest of the public in obtaining the greatest possible monetary return from granted lands for the purposes set forth in the Enabling Act of the state Constitution.