$16M approved for greenways projects from Marcellus Shale fund

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority approved more than $16 million in greenways projects that will be split among 116 projects in 39 counties including Berks, Lehigh and Northampton.

The funds are part of the $28.5 million made available over the past two years to fund Marcellus Legacy programs.

"We established these programs to ensure a portion of the funds collected through the Marcellus Shale impact fee goes back to local communities to support environmental enhancement and conservation programs," Gov. Tom Corbett said. "The first round of funding will provide more than $16 million to develop, rehab and improve our public parks and recreation areas."

Act 13 of 2012 authorized counties to impose an impact fee on unconventional natural gas wells.

To date, the fee has generated more than $400 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 initiatives.

The $16 million will be used for projects that involve greenways, trails or recreation.

Source: LVB.com