Washington County Plans On Imposing Fee

Washington County commissioners say they’re planning on imposing a natural gas impact fee, and could vote to authorize the levy as soon as March 1. That’s according to an Observer-Reporter article:

County solicitor J. Lynn DeHaven explained that the law permits counties to impose an “unconventional gas well” fee, which is defined as gas extracted by means other than tapping into a naturally occurring underground pocket.
Fracturing shale, commonly known as fracking, falls within the definition.
The ordinance also uses the term “spud,” which is the “actual start of drilling an unconventional gas well.”
Counties have 60 days to opt in on an impact fee, and DeHaven said he foresees the Washington County commissioners taking action on the proposed ordinance as soon as their March 1 meeting.

Washington County’s wells could generate up to $23 million in fee revenue this year, according to StateImpact Pennsylvania’s analysis. The county government would see about $6 million of that share.

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