SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                          793

Susquehanna River Basin Compact
59.                                       Preamble

Whereas the signatory parties hereto recognize the water re-
sources of the Susquehanna River Basin as regional assets vested
with local, state, and national interest for which they have a joint
responsibility; and declare as follows:

1.    The conservation, utilization, development, management, and
control of the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin
under comprehensive multiple purpose planning will bring the great-
est benefits and produce the most efficient service in the public
interest; and

2.    This comprehensive planning administered by a basin-wide
agency will provide flood damage reduction, conservation and
development of surface and ground water supply for municipal, in-
dustrial, and agricultural uses, development of recreational facil-
ities in relation to reservoirs, lakes and streams, propagation of
fish and game, promotion of forest land management, soil conserva-
tion, and watershed projects, protection and aid to fisheries,
development of hydroelectric power potentialities, improved naviga-
tion, control of the movement of salt water, abatement and control
of water pollution, and regulation of stream flows toward the
attainment of these goals; and

3.    The water resources of the basin are presently subject to
the duplicating, overlapping, and uncoordinated administration of
a large number of governmental agencies which exercise a multiplic-
ity of powers resulting in a splintering of authority and responsibil-
ity; and

4. The Interstate Advisory Committee on the Susquehanna River
Basin, created by action of the states of New York, Pennsylvania,
and Maryland, on the basis of its studies and deliberation has
concluded that regional development of the Susquehanna River
Basin is feasible, advisable, and urgently needed, and has recom-
mended that an intergovernmental compact with Federal participa-
tion be consummated to this end; and

5. The Congress of the United States and the executive branch
of the Federal government have recognized a national interest in the
Susquehanna River Basin by authorizing and directing the Corps
of Engineers of the Department of the Army, the Department of
Agriculture, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
the Department of Interior, and other Federal agencies to cooperate
in making comprehensive surveys and reports concerning the water
resources of the Susquehanna River Basin in which individually
or severally the technical aid and assistance of many Federal and
state agencies have been enlisted, and which are being or have
been coordinated through a Susquehanna River Basin Study Co-
ordinating Committee on which the Corps of Engineers of the De-
partment of the Army, the Department of Agriculture, the Depart-
ment of Commerce, the Department of Health, Education and Wel-
fare, the Department of Interior, the Department of Housing and
Urban Development and its predecessor Housing and Home Finance
Agency, the Federal Power Commission, and the States of New York,
Pennsylvania, and Maryland are or were represented; and