The Tribune Review reported Monday afternoon the Public Utility Commission collected 11.5 percent more in drilling impact fees for 2013 than it did in 2012.

The PUC collected $225.75 million for impact fees in 2013, up from $202.4 million for 2012 and $204.2 million in 2011 totalling $632.35 million for the first three years of the program.

The PUC also made available a list of how much money each county and municipalities will receive from the 2013 impact fees.

"These dollars are helping local communities all across Pennsylvania meet their critical obligations to their constituents without the need to raise local taxes," said Gov. Corbett.  "With this new revenue, we are making significant investments in conservation and environmental protection projects throughout the commonwealth, including the first infusion of new money into the Growing Greener program since 2002."

Under Act 13, county and municipal governments can use their shares of the money on various expenses related to natural gas development, including:

-- Construction, repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and other public infrastructure;

-- Water, stormwater and sewer system construction and repair;

-- Emergency response preparedness, training, equipment, responder recruitment;

-- Preservation and reclamation of surface and subsurface water supplies;

-- Records management, geographic information systems and information technology;

-- Projects which increase the availability of affordable housing to low-income residents;

-- Delivery of social services, including domestic relations, drug and alcohol treatment, job training and counseling;

-- Offsetting increased judicial system costs, including training;

-- Assistance to county conservation districts for inspection, oversight and enforcement of natural gas development; and

-- County or municipal planning.

On April 25 StateImpact Pennsylvania reported nearly half the townships and a quarter of the counties receiving funds from the Act 13 drilling impact fee missed the April 15 deadline for reporting how they spent $17.4 million of last year’s money.  Reports were filed covering $81.8 million.

County and local governments spent just $3.1 million of the $98.9 million they received from 2012 impact fees on projects in any way connected to environmental problems and just $7,296 on water preservation and reclamation, according to the Public Utility Commission.

Additionally, state and county agencies with responsibility and oversight of natural gas development will receive $17 million in funding for this round of impact fee revenues, including the Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the PUC, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Approximately $123 million will be distributed to county and municipal governments in over 40 counties that host shale gas activity.

Another $82 million will be distributed through the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund to counties for parks, recreation, greenway trail and bridge improvements, as well as competitive grants awarded to local governments and non-profit organizations for environmental improvement projects.

"Pennsylvania is leading the way toward energy security and independence, while creating new jobs for our citizens and setting the stage for a manufacturing renaissance," Corbett said. "I am proud to have partnered with the members of the General Assembly as Pennsylvania sets the standard for safe and responsible shale gas development."

For more information, visit the PUC’s Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee webpage.

NewsClips:

Energy Companies Pay More In Gas Well Impact Fees In 2013

Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Totals $225M For 2013

Drilling Impact Fee Distribution Figures Released

Northeast PA To Receive $36.8 Million In Impact Fees

Lancaster’s Share Of Impact Fee $500,000

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