The Department shall have the right to enter upon any property where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy for the purpose of conducting studies or exploratory work to determine the existence of adverse effects of past coal mining practices and to determine the feasibility of restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of such adverse effects. Such entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power for the protection of public health, safety, and general welfare and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property or trespass.

Added by Acts 1979, c. 399. Renumbered from Natural Resources § 7-909 by Acts 1995, c. 488, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995.