WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 306

(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
the [Health - Environmental] ENVIRONMENT Article, as well as
other plans and studies permitted by this subtitle.

(c)  Research and developmental studies and investigations
into improved methods and techniques of water supply, liquid
wastes, and solid wastes acquisition, transportation, processing,
purification, disposal and management, and technical consultation
and assistance to design, management, and operation personnel of
the Service and, pursuant to an order or request, to appropriate
municipalities or persons possessing similar responsibilities.

(d)  To the extent appropriate in each instance,
acquisition, design, construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, improvement, operation, maintenance, and repair
of a water supply project, wastewater purification project, and
solid waste disposal project, pursuant to an order of the
Secretary of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT as
further provided in §§ 3-110 and 3-111 of this subtitle; or
pursuant to a mandatory agreement to provide requested services,
as provided in § 3-108 of this subtitle; or pursuant to an
approved five-year plan, as provided in § 3-106 of this subtitle.

(e)  Except upon request of the appropriate municipality and
pursuant to a contract between the Service and municipality, the
Service may not acquire, construct, operate, or establish a
wastewater purification project or solid waste disposal project,
as the case may be, for (1) any area or district which, in the
determination of the Secretary of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE
ENVIRONMENT, is receiving adequate service from a project owned
by a municipality and operated in compliance with applicable laws
and regulations; or (2) any area or district which, in the
determination of that Secretary, will receive, within a
reasonable time, adequate service from a project owned by a
municipality and operated in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.

(f)  Execute the powers and perform the duties set forth in
Subtitle 7 of this title, including the financing, acquisition,
leasing, and operation of hazardous waste disposal facilities.

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] THE ENVIRONMENT, 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

- 1467 -