(a) The Secretary is responsible for the development of coordinated policies for the preservation, conservation, enhancement, wise use, and perpetuation of the natural resources of the State. He is responsible for the efficient coordination of all the natural resources activities of the State including the settlement of conflicts that may arise among units within the Department of Natural Resources. In the discharge of his responsibility the Secretary shall:

(b) The Secretary shall represent the Department at hearings or meetings of the Congress of the United States and the General Assembly of Maryland, State and interstate conferences, and at local meetings or hearings pertaining to any matter of concern to the Department.

(c) The Secretary may transfer, assign or reassign any function or activity of any unit within the Department, together with the staff, funds and equipment associated with that function or activity, either to the office of the Secretary or to any other unit within the Secretary's jurisdiction, in order to increase efficiency and economy in administering natural resources in the State. Whenever the Secretary believes any transfer of function or activity renders misleading or inadequate the name of any unit within the Department as enumerated in § 1-102 of this subtitle, he, with the Governor's approval, may assign a new name or names to the affected unit. If this is done, the Secretary shall cause to be submitted to the next ensuing session of the General Assembly a legislative proposal for appropriate amendment of § 1-102 of this subtitle.

(d) The Secretary shall publish books, pamphlets, maps, and other materials on the subject of natural resources and encourage and assist the Department's units in the preparation of these materials for publication. He shall maintain a supply of the publications and other materials for sale at cost to schools, libraries, and the general public, and establish policies for the Department on the gratuitous distribution of publications issued by the Department and its member units.

(e) The Secretary shall publish for calendar year 2015 and each subsequent calendar year a report which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(f) Every unit in the Department shall report to the Secretary as provided in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

(g) The Secretary is responsible for promulgating rules and regulations for the Department. He shall review and have the power to approve, disapprove, issue, or revise the rules and regulations of every unit of the Department.

(i) The office of Secretary of Natural Resources shall have a seal for purposes of authentication of copies of records or papers in his office.

(j) The Secretary may exercise or perform any power, duty, responsibility, or function which any of the following units, or their successors, may exercise or perform: the Maryland Geological Survey, the Wildlife Administration, the Natural Resources Police Force, the Forest and Park Service, the Water Resource Administration, the Energy Administration, and the Tidewater Administration.

(k) At least 45 days before the Department seeks approval by the Board of Public Works of the purchase of any interest in land for which the State contribution to the purchase exceeds $2,000,000, the Secretary shall provide the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee with:

(l) For fiscal year 2007, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill submitted to the General Assembly an appropriation in an amount equal to at least $88,000 for the Department to maintain a natural resources library as required under subsection (a)(6) of this section.