R657-41-4. Eligibility for Conservation Permits

  (1) Statewide and area conservation permits may be awarded to eligible conservation organizations for auction to the highest bidder at fund-raising events and through other authorized means of sale.

  (2) To be eligible for multi-year conservation permits, a conservation organization must have generated in conservation permit sales during the previous three-year period at least one percent of the total revenue generated by all conservation organizations in conservation permit sales during the same period. Conservation organizations eligible for multi-year permits may not apply for single year permits, and conservation organizations ineligible for multi-year permits may only apply for single year permits.

  (3) Conservation organizations applying for single year permits may not:

  (a) bid for or obtain conservation permits if any employee, officer, or board of directors member of the conservation organization is an employee, officer, or board of directors member of any other conservation organization that is submitting a bid for single year conservation permits; or

  (b) enter into any pre-bidding discussions, understandings or agreements with any other conservation organization submitting a bid for conservation permits regarding:

  (i) which permits will be sought by a bidder;

  (ii) what amounts will be bid for any permits; or

  (iii) trading, exchanging, or transferring any permits after permits are awarded.