Testimony
MD SB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition
February 27, 2026
Delegate Marc Korman, Chairman
House Environment & Transportation Committee
250 Taylor Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Re: HB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition – FAVORABLE
Dear Chairman Korman and Vice Chair Guyton:
I am Dr. F. Elaine Leslie, an Executive Member of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks caring for America’s most valuable natural and cultural resources, many of which are located right here in the state of Maryland.
In my career, I have worked as an NPS Scientist and Agency Chief of Biological Resources. I am an experienced wildlife biologist for over 45 years. I have been working on the impacts of lead to wildlife since the mid 90’s. I have worked in collaboration on this issue from across the country and including on bald eagles along the eastern seaboard.
Our collective concern today is certainly Maryland’s wildlife but also the human risk factor. There is so much we may not know about what humans are facing from meat ingestion of spent lead in hunted game carcasses, but more studies are coming to light on a regular basis, even new ones published since the time we last met on this issue. There is definitive science and a plethora of studies and peer-reviewed publications on the impacts to wildlife.
- For humans and wildlife and the environment, no amount of lead is safe. We do know that.
- Lead phase-out efforts is a solid first step to securing the perpetuation of healthy wildlife in Maryland.
- Studies emphasize that even minimal exposure can cause irreversible neurological and cognitive damage in children and adults and even cardiovascular damage.
Today, Maryland can focus on the long game-aligning your efforts to achieve larger, more meaningful results that take time-turning concepts into action. This requires strategic thinking as presented in this bill. Maryland will be demonstrating responsible, humane, ethical, and meaningful conservation actions and leadership in the state, and be a model for the nation.
By passing this bill, Maryland and its hunting communities are moving forward in an intentional manner with an eye on its natural resource conservation future. In this year celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary of our founding, enabling protections through the passage of this bill for our national symbol, the bald eagle and many other species, as well as the public, would be an event fitting celebration!
I respectfully urge the Committee to issue a favorable report.
Thank you for your consideration and time to address this important issue.
Sincerely,
Elaine F. Leslie, National Park Service, Retired
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks