1632                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

No. 25
(House Joint Resolution 13)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission to undertake surveys in the portion of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary District in Prince George's County
of the need for and the cost of enclosing or covering open storm
water or surface drainage systems, and to submit a report of the
result of said surveys to the Prince George's County Delegation to
the General Assembly.

Whereas, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has
been authorized to construct, maintain and operate storm water or
surface drainage systems in those areas in Prince George's County
within the Washington Suburban Sanitary District, and other sys-
tems and parts thereof have been constructed and are operated and
maintained under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commis-
sioners for Prince George's County, by the State Roads Commission,
and by non-public parties; and

Whereas, certain of the systems and parts thereof have by reason
of economic necessity and topographic factors utilized open channels
or drains, both through the utilization of existing streams and
through the construction of such channels; and

Whereas, the unprecedented growth and population of the area
within the Washington Suburban Sanitary District within Prince
George's County has resulted in a substantial increase in the density
of the population and intensity of land use, and it appears desirable
to consider the question of whether the open channels or drains
should be closed or covered over so as to minimize or prevent erosion,
and health problems, and generally improve the utilization of land
surface areas; and

Whereas, it is recognized that any proposed solution to the
problem must be based upon an understanding of the engineering
and economic factors inherent therein, and that no program for
enclosing or covering the open drains and channels can be imple-
mented unless there is first developed the background information on
a factual basis; and

Whereas, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is, by
reason of experience and the authority given to it under existing
law, in a position to investigate and report upon the question of
enclosing or covering over the open portions of the storm drainage
systems in the herein mentioned area; and

Whereas, it is apparent that the survey SURVEYS and studies
must be accompanied by research work performed by engineering,
fiscal and legal personnel, and to that end provision should be made by
the Commission for the employment of consultants and research per-
sonnel if the necessity therefor is determined, and it appears that the
most feasible method of making provision for the expenses to be
incurred in performing the surveys and preparing the reports is by
the utilization of funds from the sale of bonds authorized to be issued
by the Commission for storm water or surface drainage system needs
in the Prince George's County portion of the Washington Suburban