The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced yesterday that permitting fees will be increasing. From the Tribune-Review: “Pennsylvania is charging the booming natural gas industry more for drilling permits — the first fee hike in nearly five years — which will add about $4.7 million a year for additional inspectors and technology to streamline the permitting process. *** Industry and environmentalists were supportive of the increase in fees, which the Department of Environmental Protection said on Friday will rise between 45 and 56 percent, depending on the type of well, starting on Saturday. *** Fees will be fixed at $5,000 for horizontal wells and $4,200 for vertical wells — an average increase of $1,800 and $1,300, respectively.” The new fees take effect immediately.
For a copy of the DEP’s press release, see here.