MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 1885

No. 56
(House Joint Resolution 15)

House Joint Resolution commending the Joint Executive-Legislative Committee on
Assateague Island for its thorough and enlightening Report, and urging the
Governor of Maryland to implement the Committee's recommendation.

A Joint Executive-Legislative Committee was appointed by Governor Marvin
Mandel in August 1971 to study the advisability of selling Maryland's portion of
Assateague Island to the Federal Government. In addition, the Governor charged
the Committee to review all aspects of the ownership, development, and utilization
of Assateague Island and to make recommendations as to the proper course to be
taken by the State.

Basically, the three main recommendations of the Report are:

(1)  The State of Maryland shall retain ownership of its portion of Assateague
Island and not sell it to the Federal government.

(2)  Any development taking place on Assateague Island will be limited in scope
so as not to disturb the natural ecological structure of the Island.

(3)   Whatever steps necessary will be taken to prevent building of a Federal
highway through the State portion of the Island.

The Committee submitted its report to the Governor in March of 1972,
incorporating its findings and recommendations.

The Chairman of the Joint Committee, the Honorable Vladimir A. Wahbe,
Secretary of State Planning, appeared before the House Environmental Matters
Committee on September 5, 1972. He discussed the report with the House
Committee and advised the members that it had been favorably received by various
Maryland State officials, the United States Department of the Interior, and
officials of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The House Environmental Matters Committee joins with others in its favorable
impression of this important study, wishes to commend the Joint Committee for its
thorough and enlightening report, and suggests the implementation of the
recommendations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Joint Executive-Legislative Committee on Assateague Island be commended for its
thorough and enlightening Report; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor of Maryland is urged to take the necessary
steps to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee Report; and, be
it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to Governor Marvin
Mandel, Secretary Vladimir Wahbe, United States Secretary of the Interior
Rogers Morton, and Governor Linwood Holton of Virginia.

Approved May 24, 1973.