800                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 391

its officers, departments, commissions, boards, and agents to accom-
plish effectively the obligations and duties assumed under the terms
of this compact.

(b) Nothing in the compact shall be construed to repeal, modify,
or qualify the authority of any signatory party to enact any legisla-
tion or enforce any additional conditions and restrictions within its
jurisdiction.

3.7—Coordination and Cooperation. The commission shall pro-
mote and aid the coordination of the activities and programs of
Federal, state, municipal, and private agencies concerned with water
resources administration in the basin. To this end, but without
limitation thereto, the commission may:

1.    Advise, consult, contract, financially assist, or otherwise co-
operate with any and all such agencies;

2.    Employ any other agency or instrumentality of any of the
signatory parties or of any political subdivision thereof, in the
design, construction, operation, and maintenance of structures, and
the installation and management of river control systems, or for
any other purpose;

3.    Develop and adopt plans and specifications for particular
water resources projects and facilities which so far as consistent
with the comprehensive plan incorporate any separate plans of other
public and private organizations operating in the basin, and permit
the decentralized administration thereof;

4. Qualify as a sponsoring agency under any Federal legislation
heretofore or hereafter enacted to provide financial or other as-
sistance for the planning, conservation, utilization, development,
management, or control of water resources.

3.8—Allocations, Diversions, and Releases.

(a)    The commission shall have power from time to time as the
need appears, to allocate the waters of the basin to and among
the states signatory to this compact and impose related conditions,
obligations, and release requirements.

(b)    The commission shall have power from time to time as the
need appears to enter into agreements with other river basin com-
missions or other states with respect to in-basin and out-of-basin
allocations, withdrawals, and diversions.

(c)    No allocation of waters made pursuant to this section shall
constitute a prior appropriation of the waters of the basin or confer
any superiority of right in respect to the use of those waters, nor
shall any such action be deemed to constitute an apportionment
of the waters of the basin among the parties hereto. This sub-
section shall not be deemed to limit or restrict the power of the
commission to enter into covenants with respect to water supply,
with a duration not exceeding the life of this compact, as it may
deem necessary for the benefit or development of the water re-
sources of the basin.

3.9—Rates and Charges. The commission, from time to time after
public notice and public hearing upon due notice given may fix,
alter, and revise rates, rentals, charges, and tolls, and classifications
thereof, without regulation or control by any department, office, or