The planning department shall arrange for inspection of a surface mining operation within six months of receipt of the annual report required in section 23A-11, to determine whether the surface mining operation is in compliance with the approve use permit and/or reclamation plan, approved financial assurances, and state regulations. In no event shall less than one inspection be conducted in any calendar year. Said inspections may be made by a state-registered geologist, state-registered civil engineer, state-licensed landscape architect, or state-registered forester, who is experienced in land reclamation and who has not been employed by the mining operation in any capacity during the previous twelve months, or other qualified specialists, as selected by the planning director. All inspections shall be conducted using a form approved and provided by the State Mining and Geology Board.

The planning department shall notify the State Department of Conservation within thirty days of completion of the inspection that said inspection has been conducted, and shall forward a copy of said inspection notice and any supporting documentation to the mining operator. The operator shall be solely responsible for the reasonable cost of such inspection. (Ord. No. 1606, § 2 (part); Ord. No. 1608, § 1.)