§ 22-5-804 - Leases and permits -- Natural Resources Committee -- Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission. - Arkansas Statutes

22-5-804. Leases and permits -- Natural Resources Committee -- Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission.

(a) The Natural Resources Committee created by this section shall be composed of the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his or her designee, the Director of Production and Conservation of the Oil and Gas Commission, the State Geologist, the State Forester, the Executive Director of the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the Commissioner of State Lands, the Executive Secretary of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, the Director of the Department of Parks and Tourism or his or her designee, the Director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, and the Director of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.

(b) The chair of the committee shall be the Commissioner of State Lands.

(c) The committee shall establish a schedule of minimum fees and royalties, as well as the terms and conditions for various types of permits and leases. No permit or lease shall be granted for less than the minimums prescribed in the schedule.

(d) The committee shall have the authority to change the schedule of minimum fees and royalties and the terms of permits and leases.

(e) The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission shall have the authority, for all lands held in the name of and managed by its agency:

(1) To establish a schedule of minimum fees and royalties, as well as the terms and conditions for various types of permits and leases for Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission lands;

(2) To take bids on and to award the leases and permits to produce or sever minerals from those lands and to set up application procedures and fees for those leases and permits;

(3) To set the length of time for leases or permits to expire and the terms and conditions for their transfer or renewal;

(4) To set the minimum fees and royalties for leases and permits and to ensure that severance taxes on minerals from such leases or permits are paid to the proper agencies; and

(5) Shall have such other duties, responsibilities, and authority required for the issuance of mineral leases and permits under 22-5-801 -- 22-5-813 for other state lands.