In 2022, Crawford County will not accept applications for grants for environmental initiatives and bridge construction.
The county grants are funded by Pennsylvanias Act 13 (2012), the unconventional well impact fee. Act 13 allows the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission) to collect drilling impact fees for unconventional oil and gas wells. Based on allocation formulas, the fees are distributed annually to all state agencies, counties, and municipalities.
However, the state and county aren’t receiving as much money this year as they did in previous years due to lower gas well drilling activity. Crawford County received $2435.46 from the state for unconventional wells in 2020 and $49,586.91 to support environmental initiatives.
To allow for more funding, county commissioners have decided to stop accepting applications in 2022.
Commissioners have announced that the county will resume its regular application and funding schedule in 2023.
The state’s Unconventional Gas Well Fund provides money for impact fees to only counties and municipalities that have unconventional wells. The Marcellus Legacy Fund, on the other hand, is available to all counties, regardless of whether they have wells. Both funds provide money to Crawford County.
The money is divided into three categories: local environmental initiatives (impact fees), at-risk bridges (at-risk bridges), and applicants then apply for grant funds from their county.
Keith Gushard can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at [email protected].
