HARRISBURG – The Marcellus Shale Impact Fee will deliver more than $27.8 million to county and local governments this year, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23, including Bradford County).
“The Impact Fee not only funds critical projects here locally but also a wide variety of important environmental projects in communities throughout the state,” said Yaw, who serves as chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “The natural gas industry has been a great partner in creating new jobs and opportunities in our communities.”
Here are some examples of funding in Bradford County:
- Recreational Master Plan for former Camptown School $14,216
- Cayuta Creek Bank Stabilization Project $352,000
- Diahoga Trail Development – Phase III $100,000
- Parks Master Plan $27,145
More than $146 million was distributed statewide in the most recent round of funding based on natural gas production in 2020. The impact fee has generated more than $2 billion in tax revenue to support county and local governments. Since 2011, local counties have received a total of $155 million while local municipal governments have received a total of $252.2 million.
| County Government | Municipal Government | |||
| 2020 | Since 2011 | 2020 | Since 2011 | |
| Bradford | $3,396,291 | $57,951,474 | $5,975,014 | $98,545,938 |
| Lycoming | $2,336,242 | $38,879,525 | $3,975,325 | $58,689,606 |
| Sullivan | $348,917 | $5,008,097 | $575,853 | $8,458,835 |
| Susquehanna | $4,048,393 | $52,782,485 | $7,152,698 | $86,522,090 |
| Union | $26,322 | $382,694 | $0 | $0 |
The Impact Fee is assessed in addition to regular business taxes paid by every corporation in Pennsylvania. 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.
Beyond monies being sent directly to local governments, revenue from impact fees fund a wide variety of projects across the state, from environmental initiatives to affordable housing and local community and recreation projects in the areas affected by drilling. This year, about $70 million was distributed to support those areas.
