HARRISBURG – State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23) today announced that his Senatorial District, consisting of Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Union counties, has surpassed the $250 million mark for natural gas “Impact Fee” disbursements since passage of Act 13 of 2012.
According to figures released today by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), Senator Yaw’s District will receive $40,186,647 in unconventional gas well fee revenues generated during the 2017 calendar year. These distributions account for roughly 19 percent of the total $209,557,300 received by the PUC, who is responsible for imposing, collecting and distributing impact fees. This year’s distribution is approximately $36.3 million higher than last year.
Proceeds from the impact fees are distributed to counties and local governments, as well as state agencies, to provide for infrastructure upgrades, tax reductions, emergency services, environmental initiatives, housing, delivery of social services, judicial services and more.
“Over the past seven years, rural Pennsylvania has benefited tremendously from these impact fee distributions,” Yaw said. “Bradford, Lycoming and Susquehanna counties again ranked among the highest recipients of Act 13 revenues. “I do not know of any time when this much money was sent back to our local governments without a long, involved grant process.”
23rd Senate District Fee Breakdown:
Bradford County Disbursement:
County: $5,051,257.31
Municipal: $8,746,305.67
Total: $13,797,562.98
Lycoming County Disbursement:
County: $3,707,815.77
Municipal: $5,235,695.53
Total: $8,943,511.30
Sullivan County Disbursement:
County: $516,825.77
Municipal: $874,356.63
Total: $1,391,182.40
Susquehanna County Disbursement:
County: $5,947,580.77
Municipal: $10,066,229.29
Total: $16,013,810.06
Union County Disbursement: $40,580.26
In addition to the revenue disbursement above, each county, including Union, will also be eligible for funding dedicated to the statewide share. Counties and municipalities will be able to apply for grants through the Environmental Stewardship Fund, for water and sewer projects through PennVEST and the H2O program and a variety of projects under the Commonwealth Finance Authority (CFA).
Act 13, the law which amended Title 59 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, and was signed by Governor Corbett on February 14, 2012, provides for the imposition of an unconventional gas well fee on drillers operating in the state. Funds generated by the impact fee go directly for local and state purposes. The law also contains a mechanism as to how the fees shall be distributed.
For recent news releases visit www.senatorgeneyaw.com. Follow Sen. Yaw on Twitter – @SenatorGeneYaw, “Like” Senator Yaw’s Facebook Page for state-related information regarding the 23rd Senatorial District.
For more information, contact:
Nick Troutman
(717) 787-3280