1380                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 867

20.

Upon application of the Department, verified by oath or affirmation,
the circuit court of any county, or of Baltimore City, sitting in equity,
may, by injunction, enforce the compliance with, or restrain the
violation of, any order or notice, or rule or regulation, of the Depart-
ment made pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle, or restrain
the violation or attempted violation of any of the provisions of this
subtitle. The Attorney General of Maryland shall be counsel to the
Department [of Geology, Mines and Water Resources].

23.

(a)   It shall be the duty of the [Commission] Department to study,
investigate and from time to time recommend ways and means of
eliminating from the waters of the State, so far as practicable, all
substances and materials which pollute or tend to pollute the same
and to recommend methods, as far as practicable, for preventing
pollution as defined in [Section 34 of this subtitle] Section 2 of this
article.

(b)   The [Commission] Department is hereby authorized to en-
courage voluntary cooperation by the citizens of the State and by
the industries, municipalities, counties, metropolitan districts and
the State in restoring, preserving and maintaining the purity of the
waters of the State, for the greatest benefit of all the people of the
State, to coordinate and stimulate the activities of the several State
agencies now concerned with water pollution; to enforce existing
laws relating to the abatement of pollution of the waters of the
State; to supplement and expand existing technical or other water
pollution data by study, investigation, research or other means that
may be available; to cooperate with, assist and aid other State
agencies engaged in assembling, accumulating or developing addi-
tional data or information on water pollution; to cooperate with,
assist and aid other State agencies in enforcing water pollution laws
or regulations; to recommend standards for sewage or waste effluents
discharged into the waters of the State; to receive complaints or
petitions relating to the pollution or alleged pollution of the waters
of the State and to investigate and take such action as hereinafter
provided; to conduct hearings, upon due notice, as may be advisable
or necessary for the discharge of duties under this subtitle; to issue
a special order or orders directing any person in this State causing
the pollution of State waters to secure within the time specified
therein, such operating results as are practicable of attainment
toward the reduction, control, abatement and prevention of such
pollution. If such results are not secured within the specified time,
the [Commission] Department shall further direct such person to
build or install and use within a reasonable specified time, such
designated system, treatment plant structures, devices or means as
are practicable and available for controlling, abating and preventing
such pollution and to modify, amend or cancel any such special order
or orders. Such orders shall be entered only after proper hearing
with at least fifteen (15) days' notice to the person of the time, place
and purpose thereof.

(c)   No special order shall become effective in less than fifteen (15)
days after same has been served on the person affected; to publish its
findings and to make recommendations to the appropriate State