798                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 391

3.2—Policy. It is the policy of the signatory parties to preserve
and utilize the functions, powers, and duties of the existing offices
and agencies of government to the extent consistent with this com-
pact, and the commission is directed to utilize those offices and
agencies for the purposes of this compact.

3.3—Comprehensive Plan, Program and Budgets. The commis-
sion in accordance with Article 14 of this compact, shall formulate
and adopt:

1.    A comprehensive plan, after consultation with appropriate
water users and interested public bodies for the immediate and
long range development and use of the water resources of the basin;

2.    A water resources program, based upon the comprehensive
plan, which shall include a systematic presentation of the quantity
and quality of water resources needs of the area to be served for
such reasonably foreseeable period as the commission may deter-
mine, balanced by existing and proposed projects required to satisfy
such needs, including all public and private projects affecting the
basin, together with a separate statement of the projects proposed
to be undertaken by the commission during such period; and

3.    An annual current expense budget and an annual capital
budget consistent with the commission's program, projects, and
facilities for the budget period.

3.4—Powers of Commission. The commission may:

1.    Plan, design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, complete, own,
improve, extend, develop, operate, and maintain any and all proj-
ects, facilities, properties, activities, and services which are deter-
mined by the commission to be necessary, convenient, or useful for
the purposes of this compact.

2.    Establish standards of planning, design, and operation of all
projects and facilities in the basin to the extent they affect water
resources, including without limitation thereto water, sewage and
other waste treatment plants and facilities, pipelines, transmis-
sion lines, stream and lake recreational facilities, trunk mains for
water distribution, local flood protection works, watershed manage-
ment programs, and ground water recharging operations.

3.    Conduct and sponsor research on water resources and their
planning, use, conservation, management, development, control, and
protection, and the capacity, adaptability, and best utility of each
facility thereof, and collect, compile, correlate, analyze, report, and
interpret data on water resources and uses in the basin, including
without limitation thereto the relation of water to other resources,
industrial water technology, ground water movement, relation be-
tween water price and water demand and other economic factors,
and general hydrological conditions.

4. Collect, compile, coordinate, and interpret systematic surface
and ground water data, and publicize such information when and as
needed for water uses, flood warning, quality maintenance, or other
purposes.

5. Conduct ground and surface water investigations, tests, and
operations, and compile data relating thereto as may be required
to formulate and administer the comprehensive plan.