MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2845

1492.

This bill creates the Flood Control Construction
Program within the Department of Natural Resources, for
the purpose of financing the construction of flood
control projects throughout the State. The till provides
that, upon application by any county, municipality having
the authority to adopted and enforce land use and control
measures, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission,
the Department may contribute up to one-half of the cost
of a flood control project.

House Bill 839, which was enacted in this past
session and which I have signed into law, provides for a
comprehensive program of designating, mapping, and
controlling the flood hazard and watershed areas of the
State. Maps showing the interim flood hazard areas are
required by April 1, 1977, and the subdivisions are
required to adopt rules and regulations governing uses
within these areas by November 1, 1978.

By January 1, 1977, the Department of Natural
Resources is required to delineate the State's watersheds
for the purpose of flood control planning and management.
Thereafter, a cooperative study is to be made of the
watersheds, and as part of the study alternative
management techniques are to be defined. Based upon the
study, the subdivisions are required to prepare a flood
management control program, to be implemented within one
year after adoption.

It may well be the case that, after the flood hazard
and watershed areas are designated and the flood control
program are adopted, there will be a need for a program
of financial assistance of the type envisioned in House
Bill 1492. Until these studies are completed, however,
we run the risk of financing the wrong projects and in
the wrong manner. Notwithstanding the requirement in the
bill that the Department of Natural Resources establish
criteria for evaluating requested projects, it is not
clear at this time that the method of, and procedures
for, funding contemplated by the bill will be the most
appropriate ones. In summary, I think that the bill is
premature.

For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1492.

Sincerely,
Marvin Mandel
Governor