HARRISBURG - Counties and municipalities across Pennsylvania where natural gas drilling is taking place -particularly in the Northern Tier region-are also struggling to meet a number of additional challenges associated with the industry's increased presence and rapid growth, according to state officials.

PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. and Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski today said that in the wake of the drilling, there have been increases in truck traffic, traffic violations, crime, demand for social services, and the number of miles of roads that are in need of repairs.

According to Biehler, hundreds of miles of secondary roads in Pennsylvania's northern tier have been damaged or even rendered impassable because of heavy truck traffic associated with drilling activities. While drilling companies have committed to repairing roads they use, Biehler said, their efforts have not kept pace with the damage in a number of cases.

"The high volume of heavy truck traffic carrying water, equipment and chemicals to drilling sites has caused extensive damage to secondary roads and even some primary roads," Biehler said, noting that many secondary roads in the northern tier region lack the base foundation to accommodate heavy drilling equipment.

"In a few cases, such as in Bradford and Tioga counties, we've had to close roads and revoke a drilling company's permit to use those roads because repairs were not made in a timely manner. The condition of some of these roads has made travel a safety concern."

PennDOT has ordered drilling companies to post bonds for 1,711 miles of roads and that number is expected to double this year. Drilling companies have posted $16.1 million in security for bonded roads.

State Police Commissioner Pawlowski attributed much of the road damage to overweight trucks serving the gas industry. He cited a Feb. 9 enforcement effort in Susquehanna County that found 56 percent of 194 trucks checked were found to be over the weight limit. Fifty percent of those trucks were also cited for safety violations.

Governor Edward G. Rendell has proposed a severance tax to ensure the industry pays its fair share and helps support the programs and services the commonwealth, counties and municipalities must provide to accommodate their presence.

Under the Governor's plan, Pennsylvania would take in approximately $1.8 billion over the next five years, with $180 million of that total being shared directly with local governments in areas where drilling activity is taking place. Local governments could then use those funds to repair roads and other infrastructure, bolster local law enforcement efforts, or provide programs to help those in need.