822                                   LAWS OF MARYLAND                          [CH. 391

15.12—Reports. The commission shall make and publish an an-
nual report to the legislative bodies of the signatory parties and to
the public reporting on its programs, operations, and finances. It
may also prepare, publish, and distribute such other public reports
and informational materials as it may deem necessary or desirable.

15.13—Grants, Loans, or Payments by States or Political Sub-
divisions.

(a)  Any or all of the signatory parties or any political subdivision
thereof may:

1.   Appropriate to the commission such funds as may be necessary
to pay preliminary expenses such as the expenses incurred in the
making of borings, and other studies of subsurface conditions, in the
preparation of contracts for the sale of water and in the prepara-
tion of detailed plans and estimates required for the financing of a
project;

2.   Advance to the commission, either as grants or loans, such
funds as may be necessary or convenient to finance the operation
and management of or construction by the commission of any facility
or project;

3.  Make payments to the commission for benefits received or to be
received from the operation of any of the projects or facilities of the
commission.

(b)  Any funds which may be loaned to the commission either by
a signatory party or a political subdivision thereof shall be repaid
by the commission through the issuance of bonds or out of other
income of the commission, such repayment to be made within such
period and upon such terms as may be agreed upon between the com-
mission and the signatory party or political subdivision making the
loan.

15.14—Condemnation Proceedings.

(a)  The commission shall have the power to acquire by condem-
nation the fee or any lesser interest in lands, lands lying under
water, development rights in land, riparian rights, water rights,
waters and other real or personal property within the basin for any
project or facility authorized pursuant to this compact. This grant
of power of eminent domain includes but is not limited to the power
to condemn for the purposes of this compact any property already
devoted to a public use, by whomsoever owned or held, other than
property of a signatory party. Any condemnation of any property
or franchises owned or used by a municipal or privately owned public
utility, unless the affected public utility facility is to be relocated or
replaced, shall be subject to the authority of such state board, com-
mission, or other body as may have regulatory jurisdiction over such
public utility.

(b)  The power of condemnation referred to in subsection (a)
shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the state con-
demnation law in force in the signatory state in which the property
is located. If there is no applicable state condemnation law, the power
of condemnation shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions
of Federal condemnation law.