Sec. 27.21.290. - Entry onto abandoned mine area.
(a) The commissioner may enter real property that has been adversely affected by past surface coal mining practices and other real property necessary for access to adversely affected real property to restore or reclaim the real property or to abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects. The money expended for and the benefits accruing to the real property from work performed under this subsection is chargeable against the real property and mitigates or offsets a claim in or an action brought by an owner of an interest in the real property for damages resulting from the entry. This subsection does not create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.
(b) The commissioner may enter real property for the purposes of conducting studies or exploratory work to determine the existence of adverse effects from past surface coal mining practices and to determine the feasibility of restoring or reclaiming the real property or abating, controlling, or preventing the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.
(c) The commissioner may enter real property under (a) or (b) of this section only after
(1) giving notice of the entry by mailing it to the owners if they are known or, if not known, by posting notice on the premises and advertising once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the land is located;
(2) making written findings that
(A) the land or water resources have been adversely affected by past coal mining practices;
(B) the adverse effects are at a stage that, in the public interest, action to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices should be taken; and
(C) the owners of the land or water resources where entry must be made to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices are not known or readily available or will not give permission for the entry.