810                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                             [Ch. 4

the Code, as amended by Chapter __, H.B.

778, Acts of 1973.

SUBTITLE 8. MIDDLE ATLANTIC INTERSTATE FOREST FIRE
PROTECTION COMPACT.

5-801. AUTHORITY OF GOVERNOR; FORM OF COMPACT; WHEN
EFFECTIVE; COMPACT ADMINISTRATOR; DUTY OF DEPARTMENT.

(A) GOVERNOR MAY EXECUTE COMPACT; LEGISLATIVE
APPROVAL; FORM.—- THE GOVERNOR, ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE, MAY EXECUTE A COMPACT IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
FOLLOWING FORM, WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE STATES OF
DELAWARE, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST
VIRGINIA. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SIGNIFIES IN ADVANCE
ITS APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF THIS COMPACT:

ARTICLE I

THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPACT IS TO PROMOTE
EFFECTIVE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF FOREST FIRES IN
THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE
DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED FOREST FIRE PLANS, BY THE
MAINTENANCE OF ADEQUATE FOREST FIRE FIGHTING SERVICES
BY THE MEMBER STATES, AND BY PROVIDING FOR MUTUAL AID
IN FIGHTING FOREST FIRES AMONG THE COMPACTING STATES
OF THE REGION AND WITH STATES WHICH ARE PARTY TO OTHER
REGIONAL FOREST FIRE PROTECTION COMPACTS OR
AGREEMENTS.

ARTICLE II

THIS COMPACT SHALL BECOME OPERATIVE IMMEDIATELY
AS TO THOSE STATES RATIFYING IT WHENEVER ANY TWO OR
MORE OF THE STATES OF DELAWARE, MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY,
PENNSYLVANIA, AND VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA WHICH ARE
CONTIGUOUS HAVE RATIFIED IT AND CONGRESS HAS GIVEN
CONSENT THERETO.

ARTICLE III

IN EACH STATE, THE STATE FORESTER OR OFFICER
HOLDING THE EQUIVALENT POSITION WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
FOREST FIRE CONTROL SHALL ACT AS COMPACT ADMINISTRATOR
FOR THAT STATE AND SHALL CONSULT WITH LIKE OFFICIALS
OF THE OTHER MEMBER STATES AND SHALL IMPLEMENT