[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]On Feb. 14, 2012, Act 13 was signed by Governor Tom Corbett which requires any companies operating unconventional gas wells in Pennsylvania to pay an impact fee for each well drilled. This act was designed to help better environmental safeguards. Act 13 brings consistent statewide policies that will continue to guarantee the protection of our water supplies and maintain the safe development of unconventional natural gas.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]In a press release on Oct. 15, Governor Corbett said,
The Marcellus industry continues to create jobs and prosperity for our state’s working families. We are excited and encouraged by this growth, but we know that every leap forward has an impact. That’s why this impact fee is appropriate; millions of dollars will go directly to help the communities who need it.
Since the start of the Act, over $204 million has been collected from companies who have paid their share in impact fees to the state government. For each horizontal well (4,022) the fee was $50,000 and for each vertical well (311) the fee was $10,000.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Let’s take a closer look at Susquehanna County – the county where Cabot has all of its Marcellus Shale operations. Nearly $9.8 million will be collected for the 40 municipalities comprising the county. Each county is only able to receive a maximum payment of $500,000 or 50% of its Fiscal Year 2010 budget. Of the 40 counties in Susquehanna, there were four who will receive that maximum payout: Springville Township, Rush Township, Dimock Township, and Auburn Township.
Municipality |
Funds to County & Local Gov’t w/ Wells |
Marcellus Legacy Fund Disbursement* |
Totals |
| SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY | $3,900,918.79 | $36,783.26 | $3,937,702.05 |
| APOLACON TOWNSHIP | $47,378.86 | $0.00 | $47,378.86 |
| ARARAT TOWNSHIP | $47,605.90 | $0.00 | $47,605.90 |
| AUBURN TOWNSHIP | $500,000.00 | $0.00 | $500,000.00 |
| BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP | $306,108.60 | $0.00 | $306,108.60 |
| BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP | $146,398.14 | $0.00 | $146,398.14 |
| CHOCONUT TOWNSHIP | $55,178.49 | $0.00 | $55,178.49 |
| CLIFFORD TOWNSHIP | $144,056.07 | $0.00 | $144,056.07 |
| DIMOCK TOWNSHIP | $500,000.00 | $0.00 | $500,000.00 |
| FOREST CITY BOROUGH | $81,904.79 | $0.00 | $81,904.79 |
| FOREST LAKE TOWNSHIP | $451,443.44 | $0.00 | $451,443.44 |
| FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP | $221,266.60 | $0.00 | $221,266.60 |
| FRIENDSVILLE BOROUGH | $7,322.91 | $0.00 | $7,322.91 |
| GIBSON TOWNSHIP | $97,951.55 | $0.00 | $97,951.55 |
| GREAT BEND BOROUGH | $15,244.47 | $0.00 | $15,244.47 |
| GREAT BEND TOWNSHIP | $112,907.26 | $0.00 | $112,907.26 |
| HALLSTEAD BOROUGH | $25,495.12 | $0.00 | $25,495.12 |
| HARFORD TOWNSHIP | $132,576.57 | $0.00 | $132,576.57 |
| HARMONY TOWNSHIP | $53,571.00 | $0.00 | $53,571.00 |
| HERRICK TOWNSHIP | $65,614.23 | $0.00 | $65,614.23 |
| HOP BOTTOM BOROUGH | $14,653.87 | $0.00 | $14,653.87 |
| JACKSON TOWNSHIP | $96,869.62 | $0.00 | $96,869.62 |
| JESSUP TOWNSHIP | $253,402.96 | $0.00 | $253,402.96 |
| LANESBORO BOROUGH | $10,787.78 | $0.00 | $10,787.78 |
| LATHROP TOWNSHIP | $127,160.48 | $0.00 | $127,160.48 |
| LENOX TOWNSHIP | $332,126.74 | $0.00 | $332,126.74 |
| LIBERTY TOWNSHIP | $232,715.38 | $0.00 | $232,715.38 |
| LITTLE MEADOWS BOROUGH | $15,277.21 | $0.00 | $15,277.21 |
| MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP | $84,994.54 | $0.00 | $84,994.54 |
| MONTROSE BOROUGH | $71,022.76 | $0.00 | $71,022.76 |
| NEW MILFORD BOROUGH | $37,125.96 | $0.00 | $37,125.96 |
| NEW MILFORD TOWNSHIP | $277,232.01 | $0.00 | $277,232.01 |
| OAKLAND BOROUGH | $13,649.66 | $0.00 | $13,649.66 |
| OAKLAND TOWNSHIP | $31,218.97 | $0.00 | $31,218.97 |
| RUSH TOWNSHIP | $500,000.00 | $0.00 | $500,000.00 |
| SILVER LAKE TOWNSHIP | $138,406.77 | $0.00 | $138,406.77 |
| SPRINGVILLE TOWNSHIP | $500,000.00 | $0.00 | $500,000.00 |
| SUSQUEHANNA DEPOT BOROUGH | $34,554.60 | $0.00 | $34,554.60 |
| THOMPSON BOROUGH | $6,124.55 | $0.00 | $6,124.55 |
| THOMPSON TOWNSHIP | $42,801.86 | $0.00 | $42,801.86 |
| UNION DALE BOROUGH | $14,626.44 | $0.00 | $14,626.44 |
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Click to see the full breakdown of fund distribution by county.
The $108.7 million collected for the local governments will go specifically to the Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund. The funds will be allocated to 35 counties and 1,485 municipalities who are hosting unconventional wells.The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is the organization in control of dispersing the funds. They circulate the funds back into state agencies, county governments, local municipalities and the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund. Breaking down that distribution further, state agencies who are directly involved with natural gas projects received a total of $25.5 million. After that initial payment, 60% ($108.7 million) will go to local governments and 40% ($72.5 million) is going to the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund is offering financial support to a wide variety of projects that give back to the environment. Of the 40% that the fund was granted, 15% is going to rehabilitation of greenways, recreational trails, open space, and nature areas. 10% will go to an Environmental Stewardship Fund (DCNR), and 25% is going to water and sewer projects. The rest of the revenue will be split for other environmental needs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]For more information please visit the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or the Department of Environmental Protection websites.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
