The department or its duly appointed agent shall have the right to enter at all reasonable times in or upon any property, public or private, for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions relating to the pollution of or the possible pollution of any of the waters of this state.
The department shall have special inspection requirements for metals mining and milling operations regulated under chapter 232, Laws of 1994. The department shall inspect these mining and milling operations at least quarterly in order to ensure compliance with the intent and any permit issued pursuant to this chapter. The department shall conduct additional inspections as needed during the construction phase of these mining operations in order to ensure compliance with this chapter.