CLAYSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A company will pay a $2.2 million bonus for the Marcellus Shale natural gas under a southwestern Pennsylvania lake, and state officials plan to use the money to fix some hazardous dams.
The Observer-Reporter newspaper reports Thursday that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will also receive 18 percent royalties from Range Resources Inc. for the gas accessed beneath Dutch Fork Lake in Washington County, about 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.
The lake was drained after rising waters from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 put its dam in danger of failing. The state already has $4.5 million to rebuild that dam and restore the lake and will use the drilling money on similar projects elsewhere.
Drillers can access gas under Fish and Boat property, but only by drilling on adjacent lands owned by others.