1. At the discretion of the commissioner, a tanker withdrawing or transporting water where such withdrawal or transport was authorized pursuant to a permit issued under section 15-1506 of this chapter shall be accompanied by an environmental monitor authorized by the department.

2. It shall be the duty of such environmental monitor to inspect and monitor the compliance of such tankers with all federal, state and local requirements for operations and ballasting.

3. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the department from entering into a memorandum of understanding with the board of commissioners of pilots, created by article six of the navigation law, to allow licensed pilots to perform the functions of environmental monitors.

4. The department is authorized to set environmental monitoring fees to recover all costs associated with such monitors. Every tanker withdrawing or transporting water where such withdrawal or transport was authorized pursuant to a permit issued under section 15-1506 of this chapter shall be subject to such fees.