(1) Once complete and timely submitted, the application shall receive an independent review by members of a Technical Review Team appointed by the Commissioner and coordinated by the Division, who will evaluate each Project as it relates to their area of expertise or program disciplines.
    (2) The Technical Review Team will be authorized to perform a site visit to each new Project by selected team member(s) for the purposes of inspecting, observing, and evaluating property characteristics, and the degree of quality of both the agricultural operations and the suitability for long-term agricultural use. The site visit will provide for an exchange of information between the landowner, property manager, and technical review team members.
    (3) The Project evaluation process will also include a desk review by the Technical Review Team to analyze available data, maps, and information related to the property, its natural features and Species Habitat, hydrology, agricultural operation, and potential for conversion to non-agricultural use.
    (4) The Technical Review Team members will prepare a report of their findings to the Division for each Project. The report will include an evaluation of Project eligibility (in Fl. Admin. Code R. 5I-7.003) and the degree to which the Project meets the Program goals and objectives (in Fl. Admin. Code R. 5I-7.001).
Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 570.71(10), 259.105(3)(i) FS. Law Implemented 570.71, 259.105(3)(i) FS. History—New 11-3-08, Amended 6-12-23.