The department, upon application by any person or when determined by the department to be in the best interest of the state, may enter into a contract or lease providing for the removal and sale of rock, gravel, sand, and silt, or other valuable materials located within or upon beds of navigable waters, or upon any state-owned tidelands or shorelands and providing for payment to be made by such royalty as the department may fix, by negotiation, by sealed bid, or at public auction. If application is made for the purchase of any valuable material situated within or upon state-owned aquatic lands the department shall inspect and appraise the value of the material in the application.

Findings—Intent—1991 c 322: See note following RCW 86.12.200.