(a)
(1) Upon written notice to the Commissioner of State Lands given by the Arkansas Archeological Survey, the Commissioner of State Lands shall reserve from sale any state lands, including lands forfeited to the state for nonpayment of taxes, on which sites or artifacts are located or may be found, as designated by the survey.
(2) However, the reservation of lands from sale may be confined to the actual location of the site or artifacts.
(b) When sites or artifacts have been explored, excavated, or otherwise examined to the extent desired by the survey, the survey shall then file with the Commissioner of State Lands a statement releasing the lands and permitting the sale of the lands.