(1) By October 1, 1998, the department shall initiate an inspection program of all dairy farms in the state. The purpose of the inspections is to:

(a) Survey for evidence of violations;

(b) Identify corrective actions for actual or imminent discharges that violate or could violate the state’s water quality standards;

(c) Monitor the development and implementation of dairy nutrient management plans; and

(d) Identify dairy producers who would benefit from technical assistance programs.

(2) Local conservation district employees may, at their discretion, accompany department inspectors on any scheduled inspection of dairy farms except random, unannounced inspections.

(3) Follow-up inspections shall be conducted by the department to ensure that corrective and other actions as identified in the course of initial inspections are being carried out. The department shall also conduct such additional inspections as are necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal water quality requirements, provided that all licensed dairy farms shall be inspected once within two years of the start of this program. The department, in consultation with the *advisory and oversight committee established in section 8 of this act, shall develop performance-based criteria to determine the frequency of inspections.

(4) Dairy farms shall be prioritized for inspection based on the development of criteria that include, but are not limited to, the following factors:

(a) Existence or implementation of a dairy nutrient management plan;

(b) Proximity to impaired waters of the state; and

(c) Proximity to all other waters of the state. The criteria developed to implement this subsection (4) shall be reviewed by the *advisory and oversight committee.

*Reviser’s note: The dairy nutrient management program advisory and oversight committee was created in section 8, chapter 262, Laws of 1998, which was vetoed.