The Interstate Mining Commission was created
as the result of the Interstate Mining Compact
initiated by the Council of State Governments.
To date, thirteen states have ratified the instru-
ment. Maryland ratified the Compact by Chapter
297, Acts of 1973. The Compact establishes a
Commission with one representative and one al-
ternate from each state. Its function is to study
mining operations and their effect upon the land,
water, air, and recreation patterns of community
or regional development. All of the Commission's
powers are of a study, recommendatory, or con-
sultative nature. "The Commission is financed by
State appropriations based upon a formula alloca-
tion utilizing the value of minerals and ores in the
party states.

The same Act also created the Maryland Min-
ing Council, which is composed of the Director of
the Maryland Geological Survey and six
appointed members. The Governor, with the ad-
vice of the Secretary of Natural Resources,
appoints the members of the Council for four-
year terms. Two of the appointed members must
represent the mining industries and two must be
public members with a demonstrated and con-
tinuing interest in conservation matters (Code
Natural Resources Article, sees. 7-701 through
7-703).

POTOMAC RIVER BASIN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE

Maryland Representatives:

Dr. Albert R. Miller, Jr„ Executive Officer; Hen-
ry Silbermann

Room 1104
1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
telephone: (202) 737-6250

The Potomac River Basin Advisory Commit-
tee, originally known as the Interstate Advisory
Committee on the Potomac River Basin, was
created as a result of a conference attended by
the governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia, and Maryland, and the President of
the Board of Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, held in Washington, D.C., on April
19, 1965. The Committee was formed to coordi-
nate and represent the genuine interests of the
states in Potomac Basin planning activity and,
most importantly, to advise the heads of govern-
ment on the best possible permanent interstate
organization to plan, develop, and manage the
water and related resources of the Potomac Riv-
er Basin.

The Advisory Committee, made up of three
representatives from each of the five jurisdictions,
has pursued its assignments and has completed
and presented to the governors a proposal for an
interstate-federal water resources Compact. After
enactment by each of the Basin states and the V.
S. Congress, the new Compact will become effec-
tive and the Potomac River Basin Commission
will come into being to exercise the powers
granted by the Compact.

Virginia ratified the Compact in 1970, while
Maryland enacted it by Chapter 30, Acts of 1971
(Code Natural Resources Article, sec. 8-301).

The Advisory Committee maintains an office in
Washington, D.C. Currently no funds are being
requested from the states for support of the Com-
mittee.

OHIO RIVER BASIN COMMISSION
Maryland Member: James B. Coulter

Suite 208-20
36 E. Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Telephone: (513) 684-3831

The Ohio River Basin Commission was
established by Presidental Order in 1971 under the
Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 to provide
coordinated and comprehensive planning for the Ba-
sin. The Commission is composed of representatives
from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia,
West Virginia, and Maryland, as well as from the
federal Departments of Agriculture, the Army,
Commerc.e, F.nergy, Health, Education, and Wel-
fare, Housing and Urban Development, Transporta-
tion, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
"The federal government contributes fifty percent of
the costs of the Commission with the member states
paying the other half, except that Maryland pays
only S5.000 per year.

COASTAL STATES ORGANIZATION
Maryland Representatives: James B. Coulter

P. 0. Box 9986
Savannah, Georgia 31402
Telephone: (912) 234-0206

The Coastal States Organization was formed in

1969 with twenty-two member states. In January

1970 Maryland became a member. Presently the
Organization consists of delegates appointed by
the governors of thirty-two coastal states and ter-
ritories.