PITTSBURGH (AP) - A new state fee on gas drilling has generated millions of dollars more in revenue than first projected, but an Associated Press analysis finds that other major gas-producing states tax the industry at higher rates.
The Public Utility Commission said this past week that it has collected almost $202 million of the roughly $206 million that's due from gas drilling companies.
Pennsylvania still won't be setting aside money to track possible health impacts of drilling.
Legislation to give health officials a share of the revenue was cut. The health department still has other funds, but not enough to create a registry of possible gas drilling health impacts, which had been a top priority.
Pennsylvania's energy executive wouldn't speculate on whether Gov. Tom Corbett will ask for the health department funding to be restored.