HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett says it'd make sense to use some money from any state-imposed fee on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling to plug older abandoned wells.
Corbett said Thursday the uncapped wells are an environmental hazard. Corbett also told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://bit.ly/r4Tldq) that the fee should mainly reimburse municipalities for the damage caused by new drilling.
Pennsylvania is the nation's largest natural-gas producing state that doesn't tax the activity.
Corbett has made no proposal to impose a levy on Pennsylvania's booming natural gas industry, or said what he'd support. He opposes a tax, which he views as being different from a fee.
Clear majorities in the state Legislature are in favor of some type of fee or tax, and more than a dozen proposals are pending.
