Bradford, Sullivan counties get 'windfall' from Marcellus Shale landfilling fees

Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga counties will each receive $3 per ton from the landfilling fees that are charged locally for accepting Marcellus Shale drill cutting waste, which could amount to $100,000 in extra revenue annually for each county, the executive director of the Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority announced on Thursday.

"Potentially, Bradford County could receive $100,000 each year from this windfall," David Terrill, executive director of the Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority (NTSWA) said at the Bradford County Commissioners' meeting on Thursday.

The Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority's board of directors on June 17 unanimously passed a motion to distribute part of the fees it collects from the disposal of drill cutting waste to Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga counties, according to a press release issued by the Bradford County commissioners on Thursday.

"We thought we would share the revenue (from the landfilling fees) with the three counties that created the Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority," Terrill said. "We will take $9 for every ton we take in and give $3 to each county."

Terrill explained that the drill cutting waste is "rock dust that comes out of the (well) hole. But it's not really dust. It's wet. It's mud."

The formula for distributing the revenue from the landfilling fees to the three counties - $3 per ton to each county - will remain in place as long as the landfill accepts the drill cutting waste, Terrill said.

If the waste is no longer brought to the landfill, the distribution of the funds will cease, he said.

However, Terrill said he did not believe that the drilling cutting waste will cease being brought to the landfill.

"There's going to be (drill cutting waste generated) around here for many years," he said.

Terrill presented checks totaling approximately $12,000 to the Bradford County commissioners on Thursday, which represents Bradford County's share of the drill cutting fees for the months of July and August, Terrill said.

The Bradford County commissioners have decided on a long-term plan for distributing its share of the drill cutting fees, Smith said.

Specifically, 50 percent of funds will be used for improvements in the three county parks; 25 percent will be distributed as grants to volunteer emergency response agencies, such as fire companies and ambulance services; and the remaining 25 percent will be distributed as grants for environmental education, he said.

NTSWA on Thursday also presented a $35,000 check to the commissioners as "seed money" for the park improvements, the enhancements to the emergency response agencies, and the environmental education initiatives.

Parks

The 50 percent of the revenue that is earmarked for the county parks will be set aside in a newly created "Bradford County Parks Rehabilitation Fund," which will support projects recommended by the Bradford County Parks Master Plan, which is due to be released this fall, the press release said.

"This provides a great opportunity to fund some of the much needed enhancements to ensure a bright future for our county parks system," Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith said.

Emergency response

Twenty-five percent of Bradford County's share of the NTSWA landfilling fees will be deposited in a newly created "Bradford County Volunteer Emergency Responders Grant Program," the press release said.

All fire and emergency medical service agencies in Bradford County will be eligible to apply for funds from the Bradford County Volunteer Emergency Responders Grant Program, which can be used to enhance their agency, said Gary Wilcox, Bradford County public safety director.

For example, a fire company or ambulance service might apply for a grant to purchase equipment or a vehicle, or to pay for training for its members, he said.

The advent of the local gas industry, along with the accompanying population increase, has resulted in a significant increase in emergency response calls in Bradford County, county emergency response officials say.

A committee that will include representation from the emergency response agencies in the county will rank the applications for the grants in terms of priority, Wilcox said. However, it will be the Bradford County commissioners that will have the final say on how the grant money is distributed, he said.

Environmental

Twenty-five percent of Bradford County's share of the NTSWA landfilling fees will be deposited in a newly created "Bradford County Environmental Education Grant Program," the press release said.

"This (Environmental Education Grant Program) will enhance informational and educational opportunities ... and will be fundamental in enhancing and preserving the outstanding environmental quality we all expect in the county," the release said.

Schools, watershed groups, municipalities and other organizations could apply for grants from the Environmental Education Grant Fund for various projects, said Mike Lovegreen, conservation district manager for Bradford County.

Those projects could include, for example, establishing an environmental study area at a pond or stream on school district property, Lovegreen said. A Boy Scout troop, for example, might apply for a grant to rent a dumpster to clean up a stream bank, he said.

Sullivan County

The Sullivan County commissioners are planning to use their share of the landfill fees to address environmental concerns in the county, said Bob Getz, chairman of the Sullivan County commissioners.

The commissioners are seeking input from the Sullivan County Conservation District and the Sullivan County Council of Governments on specific projects that could be funded with the money, he said.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.