(a) It is the purpose and intent of this section and §§ 22-5-802 — 22-5-813 to charge the Commissioner of State Lands with the authority and responsibility for considering applications for and granting leases and permits for the taking of sand, gravel, oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, coal and other minerals, and timber or logs from the beds and bars of navigable rivers and lakes in this state or from any other lands or interests in lands held in the name of the State of Arkansas or any state agency or institution, excluding tax-forfeited lands and minerals, and to supervise activities on state-owned lands by leaseholders and permittees.
(b) As used in this subchapter, “log” means a bulky piece or length of unshaped timber, a length of a tree trunk ready for sawing, or a portion of the trunk of a felled tree that is sunk on the bed of submerged land owned by the State of Arkansas.