2144                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

No. 32
(House Joint Resolution 58)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Legislative Council or one
of its Committees to consider the establishment of a Patuxent
River Valley Park Authority in order to prevent the pollution of
the Patuxent River.

Whereas, the General Assembly in 1961 by the provisions of
Chapter 450 authorized those counties of the state abutting on the
Patuxent River in cooperation with the Department of Forests
and Parks to establish a watershed area along the river to prevent
floods, conserve the watershed, prevent sedimentation of the river
and erosion of the watershed and to prevent the spread of urban
development; and

Whereas, funds for the purposes of Chapter 450 were provided
in the amount of $150,000 in the 1961 General Construction Loan
to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works
for the acquisition of land in the Patuxent watershed by outright pur-
chase or equal matching of funds appropriated by one or more of
the counties in the Patuxent watershed; and

Whereas, the General Assembly hereby declares there has been
unnecessary and deliberate delay on the part of the Department of
Forests and Parks in the utilization of the fund of $150,000 by

refusing to commit any of the fund when matching funds for all or

any part of the entire fund of $150,000 were offered by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission, with the result that no

part of the 1961 fund has yet been expended and further develop-

ment and pollution of the Patuxent continues unrestricted; and

Whereas, investigation should be made promptly of measures to
remedy a disgraceful situation, such investigation to consider the
need for establishment of a Patuxent River Valley Park Authority
composed of members of those counties abutting on the Patuxent
River, Howard, MONTGOMERY, Anne Arundel, Prince George's,
Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's, now therefore, be it

WHEREAS, MATCHING FUNDS FOR ALL OR PART OF THE
ENTIRE FUND OF $150,000 WERE OFFERED BY THE NA-
TIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT
NO PART OF THE 1961 STATE FUNDS HAS YET BEEN EX-
PENDED; AND

WHEREAS, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE
NEED FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A PATUXENT RIVER VAL-
LEY PARK AUTHORITY COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF THOSE
COUNTIES ABUTTING ON THE PATUXENT RIVER, NAMELY:
HOWARD, MONTGOMERY, ANNE ARUNDEL, PRINCE
GEORGE'S, CALVERT, CHARLES AND ST. MARY'S; NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Legis-
lative Council is requested to consider itself or by one of its com-