According to the most recent data gathered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Marcellus Shale natural gas producers are recycling and reusing the vast majority of the water that comes back to the surface. The remaining water is disposed of in EPA-approved and permitted underground injection wells. MSC member companies have pioneered large-scale water recycling technologies in just the past few years. It’s an accomplishment that we are proud of and one that’s good for both the environment and our industry. For more on water usage, click here.
As for your question about taxes, it’s important to note that the natural gas industry pays every single tax that any other business operating in Pennsylvania pays, in addition to a newly enacted impact fee that has already generated more than $400 million in revenue. Since 2006, natural gas companies have paid more than $1.6 billion in state taxes, with $420 million of that coming in 2011 which represented a 77 percent increase from the year before. Additionally, in 2011, the state collected more than $200 million in personal income taxes from landowners who leased their natural gas rights for Marcellus shale natural gas development. For additional information and data on the economic impact of Marcellus development, click HERE
