Leases shall not exceed the acreage specified in RCW 79.14.020: Provided, That an entire government surveyed section may be involved in a single lease. No single lease will be issued including acreage from more than one township of land except that more than one township may be included in a single lease of aquatic lands, if the total lease area does not exceed six hundred forty acres.

If the available land is less than forty acres, the lease will be issued only for the available acreage. On lands which the department manages less than the entire interest in the mineral rights, a lease may be issued by the commissioner covering the state's interest independent of the joinder of the other co-tenant where otherwise permitted.