(1) The Director of the Division of Environmental Quality or his or her authorized representative pursuant to an approved state abandoned mine reclamation program shall have the right to enter upon any property 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 the adverse effects.
(2) The 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 thereon.