J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      917

remainder of the cost of such bridge, estimated to cost approximately
$1,500,000, shall be paid by Worcester County, and

Whereas, Pursuant to such Chapter 647 Worcester County has
imposed additional real estate taxes on privately owned land on
Assateague Island in Maryland; paid the State Roads Commission
certain monies toward its share of the cost of the bridge and
authorized and sold certain county bonds the proceeds of which are
to be used to further pay the State Roads Commission toward its
share of the cost of such bridge, and

Whereas, Proposed legislation has been introduced in the Senate
and the House of Representatives of the United States, which, if
enacted into law, authorizes the United States to acquire that portion
of Assateague Island located in Maryland, which has not heretofore
been acquired by the State of Maryland for park purposes, and
to develop the area as a National Seashore Park. Such legislation
also provides that the Department of the Interior shall pay the State
of Maryland two-thirds of the construction cost of such bridge pro-
vided the State operates such bridge as a toll free structure, and

Whereas, The Secretary of the Department of the Interior has
indicated his approval of such legislation and urged its passage, and

Whereas, If legislation is enacted that authorizes an Agency of
the United States Government to acquire and develop the remainder
of Assateague Island as a National Seashore Park thus depriving
Worcester County from levying and collecting real estate taxes on
land that is now privately owned on the Island, it is the sense of the
Legislature that Worcester County should be relieved of all obliga-
tion heretofore imposed upon the County for its share toward the
cost of such bridge.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That: (a) If legislation is enacted by the Congress of the United
States and approved by the President of the United States under
which the United States, or an Agency thereof, is authorized to ac-
quire that portion of Assateague Island in Maryland not now owned
by the State of Maryland, the State Roads Commission shall repay to
Worcester County such sums of money as such County has heretofore
paid such Commission as its share, or a portion of its share, toward
the cost of the construction of the bridge over Sinepuxent Bay be-
tween Assateague Island and the mainland of Worcester County, and,
in addition, Worcester County is to be relieved from paying any
further amount toward the cost of such bridge. It is hereby declared
to be the intent of the Legislature that if legislation now pending be-
fore Congress is enacted into law, Worcester County shall not be
required to contribute any further sum whatsoever toward the cost
of the bridge, and shall be reimbursed all sums heretofore expended
in connection therewith.

(b) If legislation is enacted into law providing for the acquisition
of the remainder of the Island not owned by the State of Maryland
by an Agency of the United States Government a representative or
representatives of Worcester County, the Board of Public Works and
the State Roads Commission shall determine what sum of money shall
be paid back to Worcester County in order that such County shall not
be required to pay any of the cost of such bridge and such sum shall
include the cost of the aforementioned bond issue as well as the cost