The Commissioner of Environmental Conservation or his or her authorized agents may enter upon any real estate at reasonable times and places for the purpose of making surveys or other investigations under this section, subsection 952(b) and sections 953, 957-958, and 961 of this title. The owners of damaged real estate may recover for damages sustained by reason of the preliminary entry authorized by this section in an action at law against the Commissioner. (Added 1966, No. 27 (Sp. Sess.), § 6, eff. March 12, 1966; amended 1981, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 22; 1987, No. 76, § 18; 2011, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)