In 2023, Bradford County received more than $4.3 million in impact fee revenue derived from Pennsylvania natural gas producers while municipalities in the county received more than $7.6 million.
“The impact fee funds a number of critical projects in Bradford County and a wide variety of important environmental projects in communities throughout the state,” state Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23rd District) said. “The natural gas industry has been a great partner in creating new jobs and opportunities, and this announcement is another reminder of the importance of this industry in Pennsylvania.”
Impact fees went into effect following the enactment of Act 13 in 2012. Under the act, 40 percent is collected for statewide use through the Marcellus Legacy Fund and 60 percent is divided among municipalities and counties with drilling activity.
“As long as drilling is occurring, impact fee revenue will help our local governments deal with the effects caused by the activity in their communities,” state Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) said.
The Marcellus Legacy Fund has supported multiple projects in Bradford County including the Parks Master Plan and Diohoga Trail Development Phase III, the Cayuta Creek bank stabilization project, and the former Camptown School recreational master plan.
There are 1,665 drilling wells in Bradford County. It ranks third behind Washington and Susquehanna counties.
In the 2023 production year, nearly $180 million in fees was generated statewide.
Since Act 13 went into effect, more than $2.7 billion has been paid to communities statewide, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission which is responsible for fee collection, with Bradford County municipalities receiving nearly $129 million and the county receiving more than $75 million.