“The natural gas industry has brought a great deal of economic growth and countless job opportunities to residents throughout the Northern Tier, and once again we are receiving a yearly allocation of money from the impact fees that are generated by the wells,” said Baker. “This money goes a long way toward helping our counties and local communities address impacts from drilling operations.”
Under Act 13 of 2012, impact fees were generated by the extraction of natural gas, which fluctuate depending on the price of natural gas and the rate of inflation, with a portion of those fees being directed back to the communities impacted by natural gas drilling.
According to the figures provided this week for impact fee revenues for 2014, Bradford County will receive a total of $6,424,792.78, with another $3,285,995.40 going to Bradford County municipalities in the 68th District; Tioga County will receive $3,593,564.21, with an additional $6,296,500.30 going back to Tioga County municipalities; and Potter County will receive $256,456.52 with $10,641.03 going to Potter County municipalities in the 68th District.
Baker said fees are collected from the drilling companies with 60 percent returned to benefit our counties and local municipalities affected by drilling. The rest of the money goes into a Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund administered by the state to be used for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, storm water, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as statewide environmental initiatives.
Counties and municipalities have the option to use funds to address a variety of drilling impacts, including preservation and reclamation of water supplies; improvements to local roads and bridges; construction and repair of water and sewer systems; delivery of social services including domestic relations and drug and alcohol treatment; local tax reduction; local affordable housing needs; and assistance for county conservation districts.
The following is the amount of impact fee revenue coming back to area municipalities:
Bradford County
Alba Borough, $7,255.08
Armenia Township, $343,766.23
Burlington Borough, $12,150.02
Burlington Twp., $179,760.88
Canton Borough, $85,223.60
Canton Township, $305,963.56
Columbia Township, $518,200.00
Franklin Twp., $152,240.34
Granville Township, $193,583.52
LeRoy Township,$129,489.12
Ridgebury Twp., $181.425.26
Smithfield Twp., $302.592.34
South Creek Twp., $102,351.26
Springfield Twp., $276,560.21
Sylvania Borough, $9,811.26
Troy Borough, $59,088.64
Troy Township, $518,200.00
Wells Township, $210,558.14
W. Burlington Twp., $171,326.70
Lycoming County
McIntyre Township, $113,698.80
McNett Township, $94,897.62
Sullivan County
Fox Township, $176,086.23
Tioga County
Union Township, $317,765.49
Ward Township, $419,565.57