520                              Laws of Maryland                        ch. 240

and efficient purification and disposal of liquid and solid wastes, to
encourage reductions in the amount of waste generated and dis-
charged to the environment, and to serve its political subdivisions
and economic interests. For these purposes, the General Assembly
creates an instrumentality of the State of Maryland constituted as
a body politic and corporate to provide waste purification and dis-
posal services in compliance with State laws, regulations, and policies
governing air, land, and water pollution to public and private instru-
mentalities, and with safeguards to protect the autonomy of the
political subdivisions and the rights of the private entities it serves.

2. Creation of Environmental Service.

(a)    There is created a body politic and corporate to be known as
the "Maryland Environmental Service," hereinafter referred to as
the Service. The Service is constituted as an instrumentality of the
State of Maryland, and the exercise by the Service of the powers
conferred by this Article shall be deemed and held to be the per-
formance of an essential governmental function of the State of
Maryland. The FOR PURPOSES OF EXECUTIVE ORGANIZA-
TION, THE Service shall be an agency within the Department of
Natural Resources, and the exercise of all powers and functions of
the Service shall be subject to the authority of the Secretary of
Natural Resources as set forth in Article 41 of this Code or elsewhere
in the laws of Maryland. However, the Secretary's authority to
transfer functions, staff or funds set forth in Section 234(d) of
Article 41 of this Code shall not be applicable to the Service.

(b)   There shall be three officers of the Service: a Director, a
Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Director, Secretary, and Treasurer
shall be appointed SOLELY WITH REGARD TO THEIR QUALI-
FICATIONS FOR THE DUTIES OF THEIR OFFICES by the
Secretary of Natural Resources, with the approval of the Governor,
and they shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Natural
Resources. The Director, Secretary, and Treasurer shall receive
such compensation as MAY BE provided in the State Budget.
The Director, Secretary, and Treasurer shall comprise the Board
of Directors of the Service. Two members of the Board of Direc-
tors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of
the Board. The affirmative vote of at least two members shall
be necessary for any action taken by the Board of Directors. No
vacancy in the membership of the Board of Directors shall impair
the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the
duties of the Board of Directors. The Director shall be the adminis-
trative head of the Service and the presiding officer of the Board
of Directors. He shall be responsible for the exercise of all powers
and duties conferred upon the Service by the provisions of this
Article except for those powers and duties specifically conferred
by this Article on the Secretary, Treasurer, or on the Board of
Directors.

(c) The staff of the Service shall consist of such employees as

may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Service. The

Director, with the approval of the Secretary of Natural Resources,
shall appoint and remove the staff of the Service. The appointment

or removal of employees of the Service shall not be subject to the

provisions of Article 64A of this Code.