Letter & Testimony Guide
Here are some steps to make your voice heard in Annapolis!
Senate Bill SB0878 Oil and Natural Gas - Hydraulic Fracturing - Authorization
Hearing Date 02/27/2025
Committee: Education, Energy, and the Environment
2 West Miller Senate Office Building
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone: 410-841-3661
Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3661
To submit written or oral testimony for a hearing, you'll need to first register on the Maryland General Assembly website. Look for the red box in the upper-right corner that says, "MyMGA." The button below is a document to walk you through the steps. Keep in mind that testimony is entered into the official record. Letters to legislators are not. However, submitting both is a way to let your state's representatives know how you feel before the hearing.
COMMITTE EMAIL ADDRESSES (copy/paste)
brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us,
Cheryl.Kagan@senate.state.md.us,
dalya.attar@senate.state.md.us,
malcolm.augustine@senate.state.md.us,
benjamin.brooks@senate.state.md.us,
marybeth.carozza@senate.state.md.us,
jason.gallion@senate.state.md.us,
katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us,
bryan.simonaire@senate.state.md.us,
mary.washington@senate.state.md.us,
ron.watson@senate.state.md.us
BACKGROUND INFO
History Revisited
The 2017 fracking ban was achieved through an enormous effort by multiple organizations and individuals. Maryland, specifically Garrett County, was spared the destruction that accompanies horizontal drilling. The gas extraction industry remains controversial, with studies that show a direct link between fracking and health complaints such as asthma, low infant birth weight, childhood leukemia, nose bleeds, and more.
Maryland Senators Mike McKay (Garrett, Allegany, Washington), Stephen Hershey (Kent, Queen Anne's, Cecil, and Caroline), and William Folden (Frederick) cosponsored a bill to overturn the ban. Note that none of them live in Garrett County, which would be ground zero for gas development. The EEE Committee will hear testimony in favor and in opposition to the proposed legislation.
Your views could greatly influence legislators who will have to discern if the bill has merit. These representatives may know little to nothing about the dangers of fracking without your input. You can submit letters to the committee members listed below and also submit written testimony to enter the public record. We have compiled talking points that target the key opposition points to fracking and a more in-depth series of documents that expands on each talking point. If you're just learning about fracking, don't be intimidated. Select a category that's most important to you rather than hitting on every talking point.
Thank you for your help in keeping Garrett County clean, pristine, and protected from industrialization.