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Local Municipality Planning Out How To Use Gas Drilling Impact Fee Money

CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Several local municipalities will soon be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in Marcellus Shale gas drilling fees.

The gas drilling big rigs have made many people angry, but not the people who are reaping the big bucks that Marcellus Shale is bringing.

This year, drillers are paying out more than $200 million in impact fees, and many counties and towns are cheering about it.

KDKA's Paul Martino: "Getting a half million dollar check in the mail is a pretty good thing, isn't it?"

Chartiers Township Manager Jodi Noble: "It is. It absolutely is."

In our area, Washington County is getting more than all but one other county in the state, nearly $5 million. Greene County taking in nearly $3 million. There's more than a $1.5 million for Westmoreland County and $1.1 million for Allegheny County.

In Chartiers Township in Washington County, the check is in the mail for $578,000.

The township manager says it's a great payday for her community of 8,000 people with a budget of $6 million.

"It's going to allow the township to undertake some projects, some road projects, that have been on the horizon for many years and in need of repairs that we, quite frankly, didn't have the funds to do before now," said Noble.

The township covers 25 square miles. They have a lot of roads. They'll be doing some much-needed road maintenance. The police department will get some money, too. Other money will go into the bank.

"The entire community can benefit from this industry that is now really relevant here in western Pennsylvania," said Noble.

RELATED LINKS:
More Chartiers Township News
More Washington County News

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