528                              Laws of Maryland                        ch. 240

CORDANCE WITH ITS STATUTORY AUTHORITY, INCLUD-
ING THE RECEIVING OF STATE AND/OR FEDERAL GRANTS
IF AVAILABLE. THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO FIX AND CHARGE THE APPROPRIATE
RATES SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COSTS TO CONSTRUCT,
OPERATE, MAINTAIN, EXPAND, RELOCATE, REPLACE,
RENOVATE OR REPAIR SAID FACILITIES.

5. Creation of Service Regions.

(a)    As soon as possible after the organization of the Service, the
Director shall, after consultation with the Secretary of Natural
Resources, the Secretary of State Planning, and the Secretary of
Health and Mental Hygiene, AND THE MUNICIPALITIES AF-
FECTED, determine appropriate boundaries for wastewater puri-
fication service regions and solid waste disposal service regions. In
determining boundaries for wastewater purification service regions,

full consideration shall be given to the Comprehensive River Basin

Programs developed in compliance with Section 5 (g) of Chapter 445

of the Acts of 1968. In determining boundaries for solid waste dis-

posal service regions, full consideration shall be given to the findings
and recommendations of the Comprehensive Statewide Plan for
Solid Waste Disposal developed by the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene. SERVICE REGIONS SHALL BE BASED UPON
NEEDS SET FORTH IN, AND PROVIDE INTEGRATION OF,
APPROVED STATE-COUNTY MASTER PLANS FOR WATER
AND SEWERAGE OR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL, ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 43 OF THIS CODE, BUT MAY ALSO
TAKE ACCOUNT OF OTHER PLANS AND STUDIES.

(b)    As soon as possible after the determination of appropriate
boundaries, the Director , AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE
MUNICIPALITIES AFFECTED, shall establish priorities for des-
ignating wastewater purification service regions and solid waste
disposal service regions, and shall formally designate the regions.

(c)    Identical service regions need not be designated for both
wastewater purification and solid waste disposal projects; however,
every part of Maryland shall be included in one and only one waste-
water purification service region and in one and only one solid waste
disposal service region.

(d)    As soon as possible after the designation of a service region,
the Service shall cause surveys, plans, studies, and estimates to be
made and shall , AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE MUNICI-
PALITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE SERVICE REGION, prepare
a five-year plan FOR EACH SERVICE REGION for the most effec-
tive and economical means of providing wastewater purification and
solid waste disposal projects. THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN SHALL
GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE NEED FOR WASTE-
WATER PURIFICATION PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE
APPROVED COUNTY WATER AND SEWERAGE PLANS
ADOPTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLE 43, SECTION
387C OF THIS CODE. The five-year plan shall designate those
existing facilities or portions of them that shall be transferred to
the jurisdiction of the Service, improvements to and extension of
existing facilities, construction of new wastewater purification and
solid waste disposal projects, AND THE PROPOSED METHODS