HARRISBURG, Pa. — Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) on Friday, June 22, announced that nearly a half-million in impact fee revenue will benefit communities within the 63rd District in Clarion, Armstrong, and Forest counties.
Locally, Clarion County will receive $108,537, with eligible municipalities in the county receiving a total of $131,977. In the Armstrong County portion of the 63rd Legislative District, affected municipalities will share $176,222, while the entire county (Obernader represents 18 of the 45 municipalities in the county) to receive $504,639. In addition, $10,323 will be distributed to Barnett and Jenks Townships in Forest County, the two townships in the county that Obenrader represents. A total of $57,479 will benefit Forest County, which is also represented by Kathy Rapp.
“Contrary to its critics, the natural gas industry is paying a fair amount of taxes in Pennsylvania, and this impact foe revenue demonstrates that,” said Oberlander, co-chairman of the House Gas and Oil Caucus. “In fact, the lion’s share of the revenue collected is redirected back to the communities most affected to deal with the impacts created by drilling activity. As a result, roads and bridges have been repaired, local watersheds protected, and emergency response improved.”
Statewide, $209.6 million was generated for the 2017 production year, an increase of $36 million or about 21 percent, over last year’s amount. This revenue from Pennsylvania’s drilling activity is more than the drilling tax collected by the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, and Colorado combined, despite these four states producing more natural gas than Pennsylvania.
Over the past seven years, more than $1.4 billion in impact fees have been returned to communities across Pennsylvania, according to the Public Utility Commission (PUC), the agency charged with collection. Sixty percent of the total impact fee revenue is divided among municipalities with drilling activity, while the remaining 40 percent is collected for statewide uses. Local counties also see a share of that revenue.
“The Marcellus Shale has been an economic game-changer, with thousands of jobs created across Pennsylvania and the building of a multi-billion ethane cracker plant in Beaver County,” Oberlander said. “Although the industry has had its ups and downs in recent years due to natural gas prices, we believe the market is stabilizing, and all of that economic activity has a ripple effect that is positive for the 63rd District.”
In addition, impact fee revenue that is directed to state government will help to enforce clean air and water statutes; plan for emergencies; develop, deliver and sustain training and grant programs for first responders; and help transition traditional fuel-powered vehicles to clean natural gas.
Checks are expected to be distributed in early July.
