The department is authorized to lease public lands for the purpose of prospecting for, developing, and producing oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances. Each such lease is to be composed of not more than six hundred forty acres or an entire government surveyed section, except a lease on river bed, lake bed, tide and submerged lands which is to be composed of not more than one thousand nine hundred twenty acres. All leases shall contain such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the rules adopted by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Leases may be for an initial term of from five up to ten years and shall be extended for so long thereafter as lessee shall comply with one of the following conditions: (1) Prosecute development on the leased land with the due diligence of a prudent operator upon encountering oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances; (2) produce any of said substances from the leased lands; (3) engage in drilling, deepening, repairing, or redrilling any well thereon; or (4) participate in a unit plan to which the commissioner has consented under RCW 78.52.450.

Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.

Severability—1985 c 459: See note following RCW 79.14.510.