In a joint meeting of the House Judiciary and Finance committees held on Friday, February 4, 2011, state lawmakers heard from Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox about the damage being done to country roads from Marcellus drilling operations and the heavy truck traffic they require.

Concerns about the flow of heavy trucks sharing narrow roads with resident traffic, emergency vehicles, and school buses are addressed in a new permitting process, outlined by Mattox.  Officials would be able to require improvements, like signs and widened lanes, and restrict hours when drilling traffic can travel on certain roads.  It also requires repair bonds for gravel, tar and chip, or paved roads.

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