Nov 8, 2012 2 min read

The state Public Utility Commission has released revised figures regarding how much municipalities should anticipate from the natural gas drilling impact fee.

Statewide, most boroughs, cities and townships won’t experience an earthshaking change to their Act 13 disbursements.

PUC spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher said Thursday that state officials double and triple checked their calculations after issues were discovered in some municipalities. The checks are being processed and will be sent out within the next two weeks for those that saw changes, she said.

“If you’re calculation was unaffected, your check is already in the mail,” Kocher said.

In Washington County, the majority of municipalities will see nominal reductions. However, three boroughs can expect to receive double the amount posted last month. East Washington can now anticipate $22,794, while Burgettstown and Coal Center are slated to receive $17,199 and $1,918, respectively.

In Greene County, the figures for all but two municipalities held steady. Jefferson Borough’s amount was cut by nearly half, from $19,194 to $10,123, with the difference going to Jefferson Township, which boosted its disbursement from $297,013 to $306,084.

Despite the adjustments, the totals for each county remained the same, meaning Washington County will still receive about $4.4 million and Greene County will get about $3.1 million. Nearly a third of the latter will go to Cumberland Township, which can still expect to receive $1,039,587, the highest amount statewide.

The law’s formula calculates the amounts based on the number of wells in a community and within five linear miles of its borders, as well as whether a municipality is contiguous to another containing wells.