4258

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 770

grants, including, but not limited to, grants administered
by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the
collection and treatment of sewage and industrial wastes
under the Sanitary Facilities Fund, [§ 387B of Article 43 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland] IN TITLE 9 OF THE HEALTH -
ENVIRONMENTAL ARTICLE, the Service shall be eligible the
same as a municipality.

3-105.

(a)  The Service is responsible for carrying out the
following general activities subject to the limitations
stated in this section.

(b)  Planning, integrating, and establishing geographic
service regions and districts, in cooperation with affected
municipalities and based upon approved state-county master
plans for water and sewerage, and solid waste disposal as
provided in [Article 43 of the Code] THE HEALTH -
ENVIRONMENTAL ARTICLE, as well as other plans and studies
permitted by this subtitle.

3-106.

(a) The director, after consultation with the
Secretary of Natural Resources, the Secretary of State
Planning, the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, and
the municipalities affected, shall determine appropriate
boundaries for water supply service regions, wastewater
purification service regions, and solid waste disposal
service regions. Service regions shall be based upon needs
set forth in, and provide integration of, approved
state-county master plans for water and sewerage or solid
waste disposal, adopted pursuant to [Article 43 of the Code]
THE HEALTH - ENVIRONMENTAL ARTICLE, but also may take
account of other plans and studies.

(d) As soon as possible after designation of a service
region, the service shall cause surveys, plans, studies, and
estimates to be made, and after consultation with the
municipalities located within the service region, prepare a
five-year plan for each service region for the most
effective and economical means of providing water supply,
wastewater purification and solid waste disposal projects.
In preparing a five-year plan, the service shall consider
the effects of public versus private ownership of water and
wastewater facilities upon the provision of dependable,
effective, and efficient water and waste-water services. The
five-year plans shall give due consideration to the need for
water supply and wastewater purification projects included
in the approved county water and sewerage plans adopted in
compliance with [Article 43, § 387C of the Code] TITLE 9 OF
THE HEALTH - ENVIRONMENTAL ARTICLE. The five-year plans
shall designate the existing facilities or portions that are
to be transferred to the jurisdiction of the service;