Nina Forsythe was a consistent voice of reason when Maryland first considered hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." She made her grave concerns widely known with the goal of protecting her community from the ravages of natural gas extraction. She is submitting testimony to oppose a new bill asking to reverse the fracking ban she helped get passed in 2017.
Dear Education, Energy, and Environment Committeee,
As someone who worked tirelessly with a coalition of concerned citizens to ban fracking in Frostburg, Allegany County, I am concerned about the recent Senate Bill 0878, "Oil and Natural Gas - Hydraulic Fracturing - Authorization," that Senators McKay, Hershey, and Folden, have introduced to repeal the 2017 fracking ban in Maryland.
Our groundwater in Frostburg has been so contaminated by coal mining that we rely on a reservoir and springs and wells in Garrett Co., pumping it over a mountain to supply our residents plus those of eight other communities. If fracking is allowed and fracking chemicals travel through fissures to contaminate the water supply we depend on, we are clean out of affordable options--not to mention the loss of a multi-million dollar water system.
Even with the most conscientious fracking operation (and we all know how profit always overrides conscientiousness), accidents happen. This cannot be permitted!
I urge you to not overturn the 2017 decision by Gov. Hogan to ban unconventional drilling and hydraulic fracturing in Maryland. It's not worth the risk. You must oppose Maryland SB 0878.
–Nina Forsythe
2025
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