552                              Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 243

Declaration of Rights of the Maryland Constitution. IN ADDITION
THERETO, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT
PROHIBIT THE APPROVAL OF THE CONVEYANCE OF ANY
SUCH LAND FOR WHICH APPLICATION FOR CONVEYANCE
WAS MADE AND APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD
OF PUBLIC WORKS PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1970.

(c)    The provisions of this section shall not deprive any riparian
owner or proprietor of any riparian rights, privilege or enjoyment
that he had prior to July 1, 1970.

(d)    The provisions of this section shall not affect the provi-
sions of SECTION 15A and 15B of the Code of the Public Local Laws
of Worcester County.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1970.

Approved April 22, 1970

CHAPTER 243
(House Bill 882)

AN ACT to repeal Sections 23 through 29, inclusive, of Article 96A
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume
and 1969 Cumulative Supplement), title "Water Resources," sub-
title "Pollution Abatement" and to enact new Sections 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 28, 28A, 28B, 29, 29A, 29B, 29C and 29D to stand in the
place of the sections repealed, generally revising the Pol-
lution Abatement Subtitle of the Water Resources Law of this State
and relating generally to the powers, duties, functions and pro-
cedures of the Department of Water Resources and the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources regarding water quality, the control,
prevention and abatement of water pollution, the preservation and
protection of natural resources and the enforcement of water
quality and pollution abatement laws.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 23 through 29, inclusive, of Article 96A of the An-
notated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume and 1969
Cumulative Supplement), title "Water Resources," subtitle "Pollu-
tion Abatement," be and they are hereby replaced and that new Sec-
tions 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28A, 28B, 29, 29A, 29B, 29C and 29D
be and they are hereby enacted in lieu thereof to stand in the place
of the Sections so repealed and to read as follows:

Whereas the quality of the waters of this State is vital to the pub-
lic and private interests of its citizens; and

Whereas pollution constitutes a menace to public health and wel-
fare, creates public nuisances, is harmful to wildlife, fish and aquatic
life, and impairs domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational and
other legitimate beneficial uses of water; and

23.