The Public Utilities Commission confirmed that it will release the local impact fee money associated with the state's new Marcellus Shale law to four local municipalities which had their oil and gas ordinances challenged and that were under review by the government agency.

The state's Commonwealth Court late last month ordered that the agency "cease and disist" reviewing the ordinances.

In a letter dated Tuesday and addressed to Solicitor John Smith, Bohdan R. Pankiw, chief counsel for the PUC wrote: "The Commission will comply with the interpretation set forth in that order and, as directed, will cease and desist from acting upon requests to review municipal ordinances."

The letter also stated, "Consistent with this recent Commonwealth Court order, the Commission will no longer withhold impact fee disbursements from those local governments whose ordinances were subject to a pending request for review (Cecil Township, Robinson Township and Mt. Pleasant Township)."

Editor's Note: To read the entire letter, click on the attached PDF file.