Maryland Manual 1994-1995

Created in 1980, the Patuxent River Commission
reviews the operation of State and local agencies in
regard to the Patuxent River (Chapter 746, Acts of
1980). It provides a clearinghouse for watershed infor-
mation, reviews plans, and comments on reports and
development projects impacting the river. The Com-
mission helped prepare the Patuxent River Policy Plan
and is instrumental in carrying out the Plan's purposes.
Appointed by the Governor, the Commission is com-
posed of eleven members—one from each of the seven
counties within the watershed and four ex officio mem-
bers. Members serve four-year terms (Code State Finance
and Procurement Article, secs. 5-812 through 5-816).

STATE & LOCAL PLANNING
Ronald N. Young, Deputy Director
'(410) 225-4500

State and Local Planning oversees Comprehen-
sive State Planning, and Local Planning Assistance.

COMPREHENSIVE STATE PLANNING
Roland E. English III, Chief
(410) 225-4562

Comprehensive State Planning prepares studies
and plans for the State's development. Special at-
tention is accorded land use and growth, agriculture
and forest preservation, restoration and protection
of the Chesapeake Bay, outdoor open space and
recreation planning, and implementation of the
Patuxent River Policy Plan.

LOCAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE
Scribner H. Sheafor, Chief
(410) 225-4550

Local Planning Assistance reviews and coordinates
plans and programs of local governments and State
agencies. Local Planning Assistance also intervenes in
land use proceedings of substantial interest and ana-
lyzes municipal annexation proposals.
Four regional offices maintain liaison with and pro-
vide technical assistance to local governments and plan-
ning organizations. The offices are located in Centreville,
Cumberland, Salisbury, and Charlotte Hall.

PLANNING DATA SERVICES
Michel A. Lettre, Assistant Director
(410) 225-4450

Planning Data Services collects, analyzes, and pub-
lishes social, economic and geographic information for
planning purposes. Planning Data Services provides a
comprehensive data base for use by other State agen-
cies, the Executive Department, the General Assem-
bly, local government, and the general public.
Projections of population, housing, public
school enrollment, and employment are prepared
for each county and the City of Baltimore. These

projections are used by State and local government
agencies as well as the private sector.
Planning Data Services maintains statistical data
from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and other infor-
mation sources. Such data includes population, hous-
ing, employment, income, and education. The office
also operates the Maryland Automated Geographic
Information (MAGI) System, a computerized system
that has geographically grid-referenced data on the
physical and cultural attributes of the State.
Planning Data Services oversees four units: the
State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assis-
tance; Systems Support; Geographic Information
Systems; and Research and State Data Center.

STATE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE
Mary J. Abrams, Chief
(410) 225-4490

The State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental
Assistance was organized in 1969 in accordance with
the federal Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of
1968. Formerly within the Department of State Plan-
ning, the Clearinghouse was transferred to the Office
of Planning in 1989 (Chapter 540, Acts of 1989). The
Clearinghouse facilitates intergovernmental review
and coordination of applications for financial assis-
tance, direct federal development programs, draft en-
vironmental impact statements, nominations to the
National Register of Historic Places, State plans re-
quiring gubernatorial review, and certain specified ap-
plications for State assistance.
The Clearinghouse is the State's single point of
contact for federal agencies and disseminates no-
tices and announcements of proposed federal and
some State actions. The Clearinghouse transmits
the views of Maryland public officials to federal
agencies, facilitates resolution of disputes, and for-
mulates a single recommended course of action.
The Clearinghouse also recommends the disposi-
tion of State excess and federal surplus real property.
The Clearinghouse publishes the Inventory of
State-Owned Real Property; the Catalog of State As-
sistance Programs; quarterly and annual reports of
federal financial assistance awards; and the weekly
Intergovernmental Monitor, which lists proposed
federal and State actions (Code State Finance and
Procurement Article, sec. 5-509).

SYSTEMS SUPPORT
John Garber, Chief
(410) 225-4450

Created in 1989, Systems Support provides technical
assistance to State and regional agencies using dBASE
IV, PC-SAS, and Quattro-Pro computer software. For
Census-related information, the unit assists with data
extract design and development, data set design, and
development of spreadsheet or ASCII data files.