554                                 Laws of Maryland                         Ch. 243

tion, individual, partnership, association, or other entity, and in-
cludes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality,
political subdivision, or public or private corporation.

25.

The Department shall have and may exercise the following powers
and duties:

(a)    To exercise general supervision over the administration and
enforcement of this Subtitle and all rules, regulations and orders
promulgated pursuant thereto;

(b)    To develop comprehensive programs for the prevention, con-
trol and abatement of pollution of the waters of the State;

(c)    To advise, consult, and co-operate with other agencies of the
State, the Federal Government, other States and interstate agencies,
and with affected groups, political subdivisions, and industries in
furtherance of the purposes of this Subtitle;

(d)    To accept and administer loans and grants from the Fed-
eral Government and from other sources, public or private, for
carrying out any of its functions;

(e)    To encourage, participate in, finance, or conduct studies, in-
vestigations, research and demonstrations relating to water pollution
and the causes, prevention, control, and abatement thereof;

(f)    To collect and disseminate information relating to water
pollution and the prevention, control, and abatement thereof;

(g)    To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate water quality
standards for the waters of the State, and effluent standards for
waters discharged into the waters of the State;

(h) To adopt, modify, repeal, and promulgate, after due notice
and hearing, and to enforce rules and regulations implementing or
effectuating its powers and duties;

(i) To issue, modify, or revoke orders (1) prohibiting discharges
of wastes into the waters of the State; (2) requiring the construc-
tion, modification, extension or alteration of new or existing disposal
systems or treatment works or parts thereof or the adoption of
other reasonable remedial measures to prevent, control or abate
pollution or undesirable changes in the quality of the waters of the
State;

(j) To hold hearings, to issue notices of hearing and subpoenas
requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence,
to administer oaths, and to take such testimony as it deems neces-
sary, and any of these powers may be exercised by the Director
or by a hearing officer designated in writing by the Director;

(k) To require the prior submission of plans, specifications, and
other data relative to, and to inspect the construction of, disposal
systems or treatment works or any part thereof in connection with
the issuance of permits or approvals as are required by this Sub-
title;