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The Marcellus Shale Impact Fee continues to deliver millions to county and local governments across the region, according to state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township.
"The Impact Fee not only funds critical projects locally, but also a wide variety of important environmental projects in communities throughout the state," Yaw, chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said, according to a news release. "The natural gas industry has been a great partner in creating new jobs and opportunities in our communities, and today's announcement is another reminder of the importance of this industry in Pennsylvania."
In the most recent round of funding based on natural gas production in 2022, about $278.8 million was distributed statewide, a 19% increase over last year's funding and the most on record since the program's inception.
Of that, nearly $45 million will be sent back to counties and municipal governments in the 23rd Senatorial District, according to the news release.
The disbursements announced today by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission include:
According to a news release, Bradford County distribution was $7,103,603 and had municipal distribution of $12,422,873; Lycoming County distribution was $4,803,192 and had municipal distribution of $7,391,951; Sullivan County distribution was $758,004 and had municipal distribution of $1,303,118; Tioga County distribution was $4,016,537 and had municipal distribution of $7,028,708; and Union County distribution was $50,814 with no municipal share.
Pennsylvania is the nation's second largest natural gas producer behind Texas, the news release said. Since 2011, the impact fee has generated more than $2.5 billion in tax revenue to support county and local governments according to a news release. Yaw's district has received nearly $450 million for counties and municipalities during that time period.
The Impact Fee is assessed on natural gas companies, in addition to regular business taxes paid by the companies. The disbursements are based on a formula established in Act 13 of 2012 to ensure communities that are affected by natural gas drilling receive their fair share of funding for projects like road and bridge repairs, housing, and other local infrastructure needs, according to the news release.
Beyond monies being sent directly to local governments, revenue from impact fees have funded a wide variety of projects in the region including the Diahoga Trail Development and Cayuta Creek Bank Stabilization Project in Bradford County, the Muncy Creek Streambank Restoration and Protection Project and the Basin Street / Susquehanna Riverwalk Connection in Lycoming County and the Gregg Township Municipal Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade in Union County, the news release said.