Whenever the holder of any contract to purchase any state-owned tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, or the holder of any lease of any lands, except for mining of valuable minerals, or coal, or extraction of petroleum or gas, shall surrender the contract or lease to the department with the request to have it divided into two or more contracts or leases, the department may divide the contract or lease and issue new contracts or leases. However, no new contract or lease shall issue while there is due and unpaid any rental, taxes, or assessments on the land held under the contract or lease, nor in any case where the department is of the opinion that the state's security would be impaired or endangered by the proposed division. For all new contracts or leases a fee as determined by the board for each new contract or lease issued, shall be paid by the applicant and the fee shall be paid into the state treasury to the resource management cost account in the general fund, pursuant to RCW 79.64.020.
[2005 c 155 § 133; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 41. Formerly RCW 79.90.350.]