This report examines the need for Maryland to create a comprehensive gas development plan program. The report concludes that there is a critical need and extensive support for comprehensive landscape-level planning in the development of shale gas resources, and robust recommendations for and an emerging practice of it. Maryland has the opportunity to take a national leadership position in demonstrating how smart planning can achieve environmental and business “win-wins” that will go a long way to ensuring responsible production of shale gas ! and citizen acceptance  of it.