2486

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 240

the State and protect, maintain, and improve the quality of
water for public supplies, propagation of wildlife, fish and
aquatic life, and domestic, agricultural, industrial,
recreational, and other legitimate beneficial uses. Also,
it is State public policy to provide that no waste is
discharged into any waters of this State without first
receiving necessary treatment or other corrective action to
protect the legitimate beneficial uses of this State's
waters, and to provide and promote, through innovative and
alternative methods of waste and wastewater treatment,
prevention, abatement, and control of new or existing water
pollution. The [Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and
the] Department [of Natural Resources, as appropriate,]
shall cooperate with the agencies of other states and the
federal government in carrying out these objectives.

SUPPLEMENTAL REVISOR'S NOTE: Ch. ___, Acts of 1982,

which enacted the Health - Environmental Article,
also amended this section to delete the
references to the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene. The substance of the deleted language
now appears in . the Health - Environmental
Article.

8-1405.

(a) [The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or,
for] FOR the purposes of [§ 8-1406 through § 8-1411.1 of]
this subtitle, the Department [of Natural Resources,] shall
have and may exercise the following powers and duties:

(1)  General supervision over the administration
and enforcement of this subtitle and all rules, regulations,
and orders promulgated pursuant to it;

(2)  Develop comprehensive programs and plans for
prevention, control, and abatement of pollution of the
waters of the State;

(3)  Advise, consult, and cooperate with other
units of the State, the federal government, other state and
interstate agencies, affected groups, political
subdivisions, and industries to further the purposes of this
subtitle;

(4)  Accept and administer loans and grants from
the federal government and other sources, public or private,
to carry out any of its functions;

(5)  Encourage, participate in, finance, or
conduct studies, investigations, research, and
demonstrations relating to water pollution and its causes,
prevention, control, and abatement;

(6)  Collect and disseminate information relating