On February 14, 2012, Governor Corbett signed House Bill 1950 into law as Act 13 of 2012, the Unconventional Gas Well Impact Fee Act ("Act 13"). Act 13 provides for an impact fee, Oil and Gas Act (Title 58) amendments and local ordinance standards.

In addition, Act 13 specifically empowers the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ("PUC" or "Commission") to administer impact fee collection and disbursement. On February 22, 2012, the PUC issued a Secretarial Letter regarding Act 13 implementation. The PUC's Secretarial Letter is summarized below.

Act 13 allows PA counties to pass ordinances imposing an impact fee on unconventional gas well producers, or if a county opts to not do so, allows municipalities within that county to adopt resolutions imposing such fees.

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