Owlett Announces $27.4 Million in Natural Gas Impact Fees for Area Counties, Municipalities

July 2, 2019

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) announced today that more than $27.4 million in impact fees from the natural gas drilling industry are coming back to the counties and municipalities in Bradford, Potter and Tioga counties.

“Once again, the 68th District is among the biggest winners in the state in terms of funding coming back to the district from the impact tax on the natural gas industry,” said Owlett.

Since 2012, impact fee revenues have topped $1.7 billion, and distribution figures for 2018 are approximately $33.4 million higher than in 2017.

Impact fee revenues for 2018 resulted in the following disbursements: Bradford County will receive $6,208,381 and Bradford County municipalities will receive $10,718,419; Potter County will receive $421,948 and Potter County municipalities will receive $705,684; Tioga County will receive $3,420,476 and Tioga County municipalities will receive $5,952,127.

“Bradford and Tioga counties are among the top producing counties in the state when it comes to natural gas drilling,” said Owlett. “Because of that, it is great to learn that such a large sum is coming back to the counties and communities that support drilling operations. This money will be put to good use on infrastructure improvements, environmental projects and much more.”

Under Act 13 of 2012, impact fees are generated by the extraction of natural gas. The fees fluctuate depending on the price of natural gas and the rate of inflation, and a portion of those fees are directed back to the communities impacted by natural gas drilling.

Fees are collected from the drilling companies with 60% returned to benefit 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.

Representative Clint Owlett
68th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
RepOwlett.com / Facebook.com/RepOwlett