HARRISBURG — County commissioners in southwestern Pennsylvania say they won't hesitate to vote to impose a fee on the state's booming natural gas industry, but at least one commissioner in northern Pennsylvania said Thursday that he doesn't like the idea.

After Gov. Tom Corbett signs a bill passed by state lawmakers this week, county commissioners or county council members in about 35 counties will have 60 days to decide whether to impose the 15-year impact fee on their local Marcellus Shale wells.

Pennsylvania is the only major natural gas-producing state that does not tax the activity, but the fee — which critics say is really a tax by another name — could be used by local governments to help pay the cost to accommodate the industry and fix the damage it causes to communities, roads and the environment.

If they do, they'll share 60 percent of the money with their municipalities after a cut goes to state agencies and a program to help buy natural gas-powered fleet vehicles.

That could mean more than $10 million flowing later this year to each of Pennsylvania's most heavily drilled counties, including Bradford, Tioga, Washington, Lycoming, Susquehanna and Greene.

“We are going to vote to impose it, probably at our next meeting,” said Larry Maggi, the Democratic chairman of the Washington County commissioners.

The same course is expected to be followed in neighboring Greene County.

However, Doug McLinko, the Republican commissioners' chairman in Bradford County, home to the most Marcellus Shale wells of any county, said he didn't like slapping the industry with a tax while natural gas prices are hovering around 10-year lows.

The governor is expected to sign the bill next week.