1450                           LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 671

CHAPTER 671
(Senate Bill 308)

AN ACT to add new Section 53A to Article 96A of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume), title "Water Re-
sources", subtitle "Other Powers and Functions"; to follow imme-
diately after Section 53 thereof, to specify the powers of the
Department of Water Resources in determining ESTIMATING
water storage needs in federally-constructed reservoirs in the
State, AND to authorize contracts with federal authorities for
repayment of water supply costs. , to assess costs upon water
supply users, to transfer responsibilities to responsible agencies
and to cooperate with federal agencies in establishing procedures
for operation of reservoirs.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 53A be and it is hereby added to Article 96A of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume), title
"Water Resources", subtitle "Other Powers and Functions", to follow
immediately after Section 53 thereof, and to read as follows:

53 A.

(a) When there arises a need in the State for (1) water supply
storage or (2) storage for streamflow regulations for quality control,
either or both which can be provided by a federally-constructed
reservoir, and the cost of storage is non-reimbursable (when used
for streamflow regulation) or is to be repaid by non-federal inter-
ests (when used for water supply) ; m accordance with applicable
provisions of the Federal Water Supply Act and the Federal Water

Pollution Control Act, the Department shall assume the following

responsibilities:

(1) The Department, after consulting with all concerned agencies
and jurisdictions shall determine ESTIMATE

(a)   the amount of water supply storage required to meet both
initial and future needs in the potential service area or areas within
the State; and

(b)  the need for storage for regulation of streamflow for quality
control and the beneficiaries therefrom.

The Department shall contract with the appropriate federal au-
thorities for repayment of costs for initial water supply. The Depart-
ment shall furnish reasonable assurance that costs allocated to
future water supply for use in Maryland will be repaid, in accord-
ance with provisions of applicable federal legislation. When the
future water supply is required, the Department shall contract with
the federal authorities for repayment. In no case shall the contrac-
tual obligations with the federal government exceed the total assess-
ment to be paid by the water users.

(3) In accordance with the procedures of applicable state law, the

Department shall assess on an annual basis or otherwise the cost

thereof upon water supply users or any classification of them specifi-
cally benefited thereby to a measurable extent.