County OKs impact fee

BY KEVIN WOODRUFF

At a Wednesday morning meeting, the Susquehanna County commissioners approved a Marcellus Shale drilling impact fee.

After a brief public hearing, commissioners MaryAnn Warren, Alan Hall and Mike Giangrieco voted unanimously to approve the Act 13 – Unconventional Gas Well Fee, which could potentially bring in millions in revenue for the county.

The law imposes a $50,000 fee on each natural gas well drilled in the county.

The money will be divided with 60 percent going to local governments and 40 percent for statewide uses, including Growing Greener, acid mine cleanup, affordable housing needs and rail freight assistance.

Of the 60 percent, counties with wells will receive 36 percent; municipalities with wells receive 37 percent and municipalities without wells get 27 percent of the revenue.

Giangrieco saidSusquehannaCountycould receive up to approximately $12 million in revenue.

One resident voiced concerns about a provision of the bill stating that the acceptable noise level for drilling activity at a homeowner’s property line is 60 decibels.

While Giangrieco admitted that not all of bill’s provisions were perfect, it was a step forward.

“That is just one of the problems with this bill. It is not perfect,” Giangrieco said. “But it is something.”

Susan Oliver, a representative from WPX Energy, was on hand Wednesday to assure the public that WPX would continue to fulfill its obligations to the county after the fee was passed.

“I know there have been rumors that companies will no longer help maintain roads if the fee is passed,” Oliver said. “But I’m here to assure you that WPX will continue its obligations to maintain public safety.”

Oliver said that WPX has already put $2 million into the roads inSusquehannaCounty, and will continue to help maintain them.

Giangrieco said he was grateful that Oliver attended the meeting.

“I appreciate you coming here and telling us that,” Giangrieco said.

Oliver also gave an update on three properties inFranklinTownshipdealing with water issues.

Oliver said that thePennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Protection (DEP) and WPX have each been conducting indoor air samples at three residences that have been found to have methane in their water wells.

“None of the residences were found to have dangerous levels of methane in the air,” Oliver said. “The highest readings we found were one to two percent. At 10 percent, we would ask residents to evacuate their properties.”

Also, Oliver noted that the three residences have had their water wells vented to dissipate the methane gas, and have each been given fresh water tanks by WPX.

Oliver noted that one family involved had a lawyer contact WPX Energy and asked that the company stay off their property, and have no contact with them.

“We’re more than willing to give them water,” Oliver said. “But we are waiting for permission.”

Also on Wednesday, commissioners signed into a contract with Pennsylvania Community and Economic Development to secure $263,971 in community development block grants.

The funds, administered through Susquehanna County Redevelopment Authority, will be used for street repairs, storm sewer repairs, removal of architectural barriers, demolition and housing rehabilitation.

In other business, commissioners passed a motion for Fruehan Construction to conduct repairs on theLake Avenueentrance of the Susquehanna County Courthouse, in the amount of $9,700.