Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1703

plement), title "Governor—Executive and Administrative Depart-
ments," subtitle "The Department of Natural Resources," to follow
immediately after Section 239 thereof and to be under the new sub-
heading "Interstate Environmental ENVIRONMENT Compact,"
and to read as follows:

240.
(a) Preamble.

Whereas, the concern for the purity and life-giving qualities of our
environment is of primary concern to every citizen of Maryland and
to all Americans; and

Whereas, the quality of our environment depends upon the man-

agement of the air, water and land resources upon which our lives

depend; and

Whereas, the ultimate responsibility for the health, safety and
welfare of the people of Maryland rests upon the State Government;

and

Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that ecological systems

cross state boundaries; and

Whereas, the discharge of this responsibility can be effectively

enhanced by acting in concert and cooperation with other states and

the National Government; NOW, Therefore, the parties signatory

hereby do mutually agree and covenant with each other as follows:

(b) ARTICLE 1. Findings, Purposes and Reservations of

Power.

(1) Findings. The legislative bodies of the respective signa-

tories hereby find and declare:

(a) The environment of every state is affected with local, state,

regional and national interests and its protection, under appropriate
arrangements for intergovernmental cooperation, are public pur-
poses of the respective signatories.

(b) Certain environmental pollution problems transcend state
boundaries and thereby become common to adjacent states requiring
cooperative efforts.

     (c) The environment of each state is subject to the effective

control of the signatories, and coordinated, cooperative or joint
exercise of control measures is in their common interests.

(2) Purposes. The purposes of the signatories in enacting this
compart are:

(a) To assist and participate in the national environment pro-
tection programs as set forth in federal legislation; to promote inter-
governmental cooperation for multistate action relating to environ-
mental protection through interstate agreements; and to encourage
cooperative and coordinated environmental protection by the signa-
tories and the Federal Government;

(b) To preserve and utilize the functions, powers and duties of

existing state agencies of government to the maximum extent pos-
sible consistent with purposes of the compact.