Yesterday, Gov. Tom Corbett along with Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) officials announced the disbursements from the recently enacted bipartisan natural gas impact fee for local and county governments across the Commonwealth. On its website, PUC has a detailed breakdown of the disbursements. The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) issues this statement and MSC president Kathryn Klaber also appeared on WILK-FM radio yesterday to discuss the natural gas industry’s positive impact on the Commonwealth.

Here’s what they’re saying:

  • “All Corners of Pa.” Benefiting From Marcellus Shale: In the next 10 days, municipalities and counties across Pennsylvania are slated to receive their cut of the roughly $204 million of impact fee revenue from Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling. … As state Public Utility Commission chairman Robert Powelson points out, all 67 counties will receive some portion of the impact fee revenue. “There are communities in southeastern Pennsylvania, where I’m from — Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County, and Bucks County — that are also net beneficiaries of these funds,” Powelson said. He says those funds are slated for things such as environmental programs, bridge repair, and water and sewer projects. Philadelphia County, for example, doesn’t have any active natural gas wells, but is getting $1.3 million. (WHYY, 10/15/12)
  • Marcellus Shale “Positively Impacting Every Square Inch of the Commonwealth”: Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition released the following statement: “The safe development of job-creating American natural gas continues to provide significant economic and environmental benefits across our region, and today’s announcement further underscores the fact that Marcellus Shale production is positively impacting every square inch of the Commonwealth. These critical resources will help ensure that local governments are equipped to make the most of this historic opportunity,” she said. (WJAC-TV, 10/15/12)
  • “A Pleasant Surprise” For Local Govts.: Several Western Pennsylvania townships and counties stand to benefit the most from the $204 million Pennsylvania collected in impact fees from Marcellus shale gas drilling. “This is certainly a pleasant surprise. Oh my,” said William Groves, supervisors chair in Cumberland in Greene County, when told his township is getting $1 million, the largest municipal payout in the state. … Washington County will get the most of any county government in the region, $4.43 million. … “The natural gas industry’s work across the commonwealth is indeed a true partnership with county and local governments,” the industry group Marcellus Shale Coalition said. (Tribune-Review, 10/15/12)
  • “Pa. Communities to Share $204 million in Marcellus Shale Impact Fees”: Nearly 1,500 towns across Pennsylvania and each county government will share $204 million in the coming days as a result of the new fee that shale gas drillers paid on their wells. … Allegheny County is slated to receive about $1.1 million, a total that includes $79,000 based on the number of local wells and slightly more than $1 million from the statewide “legacy fund” that can be used for bridge or recreation projects. All 67 counties will receive a portion of the legacy fund, regardless of whether they have any shale gas wells. … Philadelphia County will receive nearly $1.3 million. (Post-Gazette, 10/15/12)
  • “A True Partnership”: The disbursements to county and local governments are an example of the positive impact the unconventional natural gas is having on Pennsylvania, said Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. “The natural gas industry across the commonwealth is indeed a true partnership with county and local governments,” Klaber said. “These revenues are being directed to each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties regardless of where natural gas operations are taking place.” (Tribune-Democrat, 10/15/12)
  • “Natural Gas Impact Fee: Area Counties Get Millions”: Bradford County will get $8.4 million, Lycoming County $4 million and Susquehanna County $3.9 million from the impact fee the state is now collecting from the natural gas industry. … All counties in the state are eligible for monies from a Legacy Fund established through this impact fee, even if there are no natural gas wells within those counties. (WNEP-TV, 10/15/12)
  • “It Will Prevent a Tax Increase, For Sure”: In the state’s Marcellus shale gas sweepstakes, Washington Township appears to be the Valley’s big winner. Out of all Alle-Kiski communities, none comes close to the nearly $380,000 that Washington Township will be getting from the impact fee. … “Obviously, this is a big boost to the township,” said Rich Gardner, Washington Township supervisors chairman. “It equates to about 4.5 to 5 mills of taxes. It will prevent a tax increase, for sure.” (Tribune-Review, 10/15/12)
  • “Local Governments Get Majority of Marcellus Shale Impact Fee”: Under the law’s distribution scheme, every county in the commonwealth gets some share of the proceeds, underscoring the Corbett administration and the gas industry’s contention that gas development benefits the entire state. Philadelphia, for example, will receive nearly $1.3 million. … Notably, the Department of Environmental Protection received $6 million, and the Environmental Stewardship Fund at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources received $7.2 million. … The Marcellus Shale Coalition, the leading gas industry group, also issued a statement in which president Kathryn Klaber said, “Today’s announcement further underscores the fact that Marcellus Shale production is positively impacting every square inch of the Commonwealth.” (Patriot-News, 10/15/12)
  • “Phila. to Get $1.3M From Marcellus Shale Impact Fee”: Drilling rigs are hardly a part of Philadelphia’s cityscape, but the city will nonetheless receive just shy of $1.3 million this year from the state’s new impact fee on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. … Philadelphia ranked among the top 10 of 67 counties in the state for payouts, though there is no drilling within city limits. The state has brought in $204 million since the legislature passed the fee this year. Sixty percent of that goes to drilling communities; the remainder is doled out to counties based on population. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/15/12)
  • “Five Counties of Southeastern Penna. Will Share $3.4 Million of Marcellus Shale Fees”: Philadelphia will get almost $1.3 million while the four suburban counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania will receive a total of more than $2 million through the disbursement of natural gas drilling “impact fees” announced by the Corbett administration today. Statewide, the new fees on natural gas activities raised more than $204 million. (CBS Philly, 10/15/12)

Have questions about safe, job-creating Marcellus Shale natural gas development? Please visit LearnAboutShale.org and join the conversation online: #LearnAboutShale.