the planning of the region. The Council shall consist of the Chairman of the Commission, ex officio, Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and not to exceed eight other members who, with their alternates, shall be appointed by the Commission, pursuant to nominations as hereinafter provided. For the Maryland environs, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission may nominate two of its members, one each for the portions of the Maryland-Washington regional district within Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, respectively, and for the portion of either county without the said Maryland-Washington regional district, the governing bodies of each county may nominate a member of the planning agency for each such portion: Provided, That if any portion of either county is without a planning agency the governing body of such county may nominate a qualified person to represent such portion. For the Virginia environs, the Northern Virginia Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, after soliciting recommendations from the governing bodies of the cities and counties of the Virginia environs, may nominate 4 persons, each of whom shall be a member of a planning agency in the Virginia environs but no more than one of whom shall be from the same city or county. An equal number of alternate members of the Council from the Maryland and Virginia portions of the regions may be nominated by the nominating, authorities designated herein. The members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their services on the Council, but may, notwithstanding the provisions of title 18 U.S.C. 1914, continue to accept such compensations as may be paid to them as members of local governmental agencies. The Council shall select its chairman from among its members.
"(b) Any county or portion of any county in Maryland or Virginia may hereafter be added to the National Capital region if the local governing body of such county shall so request and if the Commission and the Council shall find that such addition to the region is appropriate and shall accordingly approve such request. Any county or portion of any county so added to the region may participate in the work of the Council according to such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the Commission, the Council and the governing body of such county except that no provision for participation shall permit an increase in the number of members of the Council as herein constituted.
"Services and Facilities
"(c) The Commission shall make available to the Council such technical and clerical assistance and such other services and facilities as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the Council. The Council may accept such assistance, services, and facilities as may be made available by any State or local governmental authority having jurisdiction in the areas in which the agencies herein authorized to nominate members of the Council have jurisdiction.
"Preparation of Regional Plan
"(d) The Council is authorized to adopt and, from time to time, amend, or extend, a general plan for the development of the region, to serve as a general framework or guide of development within which each part of the region may be more precisely planned by the appropriate planning agency or agencies. The regional plan shall
