The department may determine and designate the known geothermal resource areas. The determinations and designations shall be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation in this state, the last publication to be not less than five days from the first date of publication. The determinations and designations shall become effective from the date of first publication. Until such a determination and designation is made by the department, all state lands shall be deemed not located within any known geothermal resource area.