The Commonwealth Financing Authority of Pennsylvania has begun accepting applications for five programs established by the Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund to support conservation projects and environmental protection measures, Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration announced.
The programs provide $14 million in funding available for abandoned mine drainage, abatement and treatment, watershed restoration and protection, water quality data, greenways, trails and recreation, and orphan and abandoned well plugging programs throughout the state.
Act 13, which Corbett signed on Feb. 14, 2012, created an impact fee based on wells drilled in the state. Last year, the fee generated more than $204 million. The majority of the revenues are distributed to local governments where drilling is taking place, with the remainder of the money used for statewide programs or distributed to counties based on population.
The Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection are administering the programs.
