case-by-case basis for each well based on the average price of natural gas. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission asses a list of all unconventional wells (provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) to determine the fee applicable to each well. The fee is due annually on April 1. Some of the law's provisions are that all municipalities must allow Marcellus Shale well drilling (in all zoning districts, including residential and may not limit hours of operation), water and wastewater pits (in all zoning district, including residential), compressor stations (in industrial and agricultural zoning districts and may not limit hours of operation), gas processing plants (in industrial zoning districts and cannot limit hours of operation), and gas pipelines (in all zoning districts, including residential). Act 13 also included a provision that allows for well owners to pay the impact fee on wells only up to 15 years. The fee diminishes over time, and, after fifteen years, is no longer paid by the well owner. The law helped pave the way for a new pipeline across Pennsylvania to export terminals in Maryland. Pennsylvania's Act 13 from 2011 on the one hand implemented a statewide regulation of hydraulic fracturing with the impact fee and on the other hand enshrines a low standard of regulation preventing the possibilities for procedural justice and empowerment of local communities on the issue. The law harmonizes the conditions for hydraulic fracturing regulations at the state level prohibiting local governments from legislating or adopting tougher regulations of hydraulic fracturing activities. The impact fee for unconventional gas wells benefits local counties and are to be used to tackle the local effects of hydraulic fracturing. Act 13 included a list of specific uses for the funds generated through the Impact fee. The categories include: the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of public infrastructure, water, storm water, and sewer systems; emergency preparedness and public safety; environmental programs; tax reductions; affordable housing projects; records management; social and judicial services; and career and technical centers for training oil and gas industry workers. The law has been widely criticized by environmentalists AS a result local authorities lost zoning powers to decide where and when to allow hydraulic fracturing. The act also assigns the responsibility of fee imposition and collection to local governments. The Pennsylvania Utility Commission has the power to invalidate any local ordinance conflicting with oil and gas operations. Hydraulic fracturing has to