232                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 73

Garrett or Allegany County. The precise location shall be selected
by the Director of the Bureau of Mines, with the approval of the
Governor.

Article 96A
Water Resources
General Provisions

1.  (a) It is the intention of the General Assembly in the enactment
of this Article to exercise to the fullest extent possible the responsi-
bilities of the State of Maryland for water resources planning, de-
velopment and conservation in order to obtain the greatest benefits
for the State and its citizens.

(b) In the exercise of this responsibility there is hereby created
a State Department of Water Resources, which shall have the powers
and duties provided for in this article. In addition, the Department
shall have those powers and duties formerly exercised by the Water
Pollution Control Commission and the present Department of Geol-
ogy, Mines and Water Resources which are transferred herein to
the Department. Nothing in this Article shall in any manner limit
the responsibilities of the Department of Chesapeake Bay Affairs
as provided for in Article 66C of this Code.

2.  (a) As used in this article, the following terms shall mean, un-
less the context clearly provides otherwise:

(b)  "Department" shall mean the Department of Water Resources;

(c)  "Director" shall mean the Director of the Department of Water
Resources;

(d)  "Commission" shall mean the Water Resources Commission;

(e)  "Waters of the State" shall include both surface and under-
ground waters within the boundaries of the State or subject to its
jurisdiction, including that portion of the Atlantic Ocean within the
boundaries of the State, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and
all ponds, lakes, rivers and streams within the State;

(f)  "Person" shall include, in addition to any other meaning it
may have under this article, the State, any municipal corporation,
any county or any public or private corporation, copartnership, firm
or any other entity whatsoever.

(g)   "Pollution" shall mean the discharge or deposit into any of
the waters of the State of any liquid, gaseous or solid substance or
substances which may create a nuisance therein or render such
waters unclean or noxious so as to be detrimental to the propogation,
cultivation or conservation of animals, fish or aquatic life, or unsuit-
able with reasonable treatment, for use as present or possible future
source of public water supply or unsuitable for commercial, indus-
trial, agricultural, recreational or other reasonable uses.

3.   (a) The administrative head of the Department shall be the
Director, who shall be appointed by the Commission with the ap-
proval of the Governor in accordance with the merit system law. The
Director shall be a person with executive ability and experience and
with knowledge of the general principles involved in the planning,