A. The commissioner shall, after consultation with the director of the bureau of geology and mineral resources, make a classification of geothermal areas that he has determined may be capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities. These geothermal areas shall be classified as "known geothermal resources fields".
B. If any lands to be leased are within a known geothermal resources field, the lands shall be leased to the highest responsible qualified bidder under rules prescribed by the commissioner. The rules prescribed by the commissioner shall include notice to the public of the terms and conditions of the sale and procedures of conducting the sale, including the receipt of written bids on a competitive basis and the issuing of the lease.