HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Competing proposals to strengthen regulations over natural gas drilling and impose an impact fee on the industry appear headed to a joint committee of the Pennsylvania House and Senate to iron out the differences.
The House voted unanimously Tuesday against the Senate's plan, which puts the bill on track for a conference committee.
The proposal that previously passed the House mimics the approach favored by Gov. Tom Corbett. It would let counties decide whether to levy an impact fee of up to $160,000 over 10 years. The Senate's proposal is a state-imposed impact fee of $360,000 over 20 years.
There are also substantial differences in how the money would be distributed.
Legislative procedure requires the Senate to insist on its amendments before a committee can be set up.
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