Marvin Mandel, Governor                            575

(f)    To administer the State Shore Erosion Control Construc-
tion Loan Fund to provide loans to persons, municipalities or coun-
ties in support of construction of shore erosion control structures.

(g)    To supervise or make provision for the supervising of the
design and erection of all shore protective devices financed wholly
or in part by the State Shore Erosion Construction Loan Fund.

(h) To prepare requests for appropriation of funds necessary
to maintain the State Shore Erosion Control Construction Fund.

(i) To cooperate with the following agencies:

(1)    The State Roads Commission for shore erosion control
where essential to protect municipal, county or State roads.

(2)    The United States Army Corps of Engineers for the con-
duct of shore erosion studies.

(3)    The Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of
Agriculture, in evaluation and application of vegetative measures
for shore erosion control.

(j) To design, construct and maintain shore erosion control
works on state owned lands when such projects are included in the
annual budget for the Shore Erosion Construction Loan Fund;

(k) To promulgate regulations for the administration and im-
plementation of this subtitle.

756A.

For the purpose of this subheading, unless otherwise required by
the context:

(a)    The term "shore erosion control project" means a compe-
tently designed work project which may include but is not limited
to the erection or placement of bulkheads, groins, or other erosion
control devices, and such measures as may be required to stabilize
waterside, shorelines, banks, and to change drainage patterns, the
whole intended to halt or retard erosion of shorelines and deposi-
tion of eroded sediments in the waters of the State.

(b)    The term "project construction cost" means the total initial
cost of constructing a shore erosion control project, exclusive of
design, supervision, inspection, and maintenance costs.

(c)    The term "net project construction cost" means that part
of the project construction cost paid from the Shore Erosion Control
Construction Loan Fund created by Section 758A of this article,
equal to project construction cost less the cash contribution of the
owner or owners of the benefited property or properties upon com-
pletion of construction.

(d)    The term "property owner's cash contribution" means that
sum which the owner or owners of property benefited by a shore
erosion control project agree(s) to pay in a lump sum upon comple-
tion of project construction cost, and shall be placed in escrow im-
mediately after a construction contract is awarded but before con-
struction begins.

757.

(a) Any owner of property abutting on any body of water in
the State may file a written application with the Department of