37-902. Public lands; public policy; state land department

A. The department shall hold the public lands of this state in trust for the benefit of the people of this state and shall manage them in an orderly and beneficial manner consistent with the public policy declared in subsection B.

B. The department shall administer the public lands of this state in such a manner as to conserve and preserve natural resources, wildlife habitat, wilderness areas and historical sites and artifacts and to permit the development of compatible public uses for recreation, agriculture, ranching, mining and timber production and the development, production and transmission of energy and other public utility services under principles of multiple use which provide the greatest benefit to the people of this state.

C. Subject to existing rights, all public land in this state and all minerals not previously appropriated to private ownership are the property of this state and subject to its jurisdiction and control.

D. Any public lands within this state administered by the United States under treaties or interstate compacts shall continue to be administered by this state in conformance with the treaties or compacts.

E. Until equivalent measures are enacted by this state, the rights and privileges of the people of this state under the national forest reserve transfer act, 16 U.S.C. sec. 471 et seq., the general mining laws, 30 U.S.C. sec. 21 et seq., the Taylor grazing act, 43 U.S.C. sec. 315 et seq., the desert land act, 43 U.S.C. sec. 321 et seq., the Carey act, 43 U.S.C. sec. 641 et seq., the public rangelands improvement act, 43 U.S.C. sec. 1901 et seq. and all rights-of-way and easements for public utilities are preserved under the administration of this state.