Marvin Mandel, Governor                             47

Whereas, The President of the United States asked the Secretary
of the Interior to work with the affected states and local govern-
ments, the District of Columbia, and interested federal agencies to
prepare a program for his consideration which would include provi-
sions for cleaning up the river, protecting its natural beauty and
providing adequate recreational facilities, to which end the Secre-
tary established the Federal Interdepartmental Task Force on the
Potomac; and

Whereas, the Governors of the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia and West Virginia and the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia established the Potomac River Basin Advisory Com-
mittee composed of their representatives; and

Whereas, it has become apparent to all parties that, although
many State and Federal agencies have an interest in or responsibility
for one or more aspects of the water resources of the Potomac River
Basin, none has the legal authority to provide the broad, continuous
guidance for development and management on a regional basis neces-
sary for the most effective utilization of these resources; and

Whereas, the wisest and most efficient uses of the available re-
sources of the Potomac River and its tributaries may be determined
only through the continuing process of fully coordinated and com-
prehensive planning which is responsive to all of the interests and
jurisdictions of the basin; and

Whereas, the effectuation of plans so conceived for the conser-
vation, utilization, development and management of these water
resources for maximum public and private benefit may best be real-
ized under the guidance of a single basin agency; and

Whereas, The Potomac River Basin Advisory Committee prepared
a draft of an interstate-federal compact calling for the creation of a
basin agency to discharge the joint responsibilities of the United
States, the States in the Potomac River Basin and the District of
Columbia with respect to the conservation, utilization, development
and management of the water and related resources of the Potomac
River Basin, which draft has been reviewed by the agencies of the
governments involved and by the public and has been revised in the
light of comments therefrom;

Now, Therefore, the parties signatory hereto do mutually agree
and covenant with each other as follows:

112.

ARTICLE 1

SHORT TITLE, DEFINITIONS, PURPOSES
AND LIMITATIONS

1.01.    Short Title.—This compact shall be known and may be cited
as the Potomac River Basin Compact.

1.02.    Definitions.—For the purpose of this compact and of any
supplemental or concurring legislation enacted pursuant or in rela-
tion hereto, except as may be otherwise required by the context:

(a) Basin shall mean the area of drainage into the Potomac
River and its tributaries and branches, unto its confluence with the