ALLENTOWN — A “citizens commission” sponsored by liberal and environmental groups said Monday that Pennsylvania’s burgeoning natural-gas drilling industry requires better regulation and should “pay its fair share” in the form of a drilling tax.

The Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission released an 87-page blueprint for managing the development of the gas field. The report called the Marcellus a valuable natural resource that can help Pennsylvania weather the effects of the economic downturn, but it said the state must do a better job of minimizing the environmental and health impacts of drilling.

The panel held five hearings across the state, taking testimony from experts and residents who live in the Marcellus Shale region. Residents told the commission they feel that state officials were unprepared for the boom and have been “unable, and at times unwilling, to balance the interests of industry with those of individuals and communities,” the report said.

The panel issued dozens of recommendations covering all aspects of the drilling process, from leasing to hydraulic fracturing to pipelines and compressor stations.

The report said pro-drilling Gov. Tom Corbett, the Legislature, and the Department of Environmental Protection should beef up regulations; spend more money on and improve regulatory enforcement; dramatically expand setback requirements; protect environmentally sensitive areas of the state from drilling; undertake a study of the cumulative impact of gas drilling on water, air and human health; and institute a tax on producers.

Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley said the governor is implementing the recommendations of his own advisory commission.

Corbett, a Republican, took a campaign pledge not to increase taxes or fees, but he has proposed allowing counties to impose a 10-year “impact fee” on the thousands of wells being drilled in the state. He views the proposed fee as being in line with that promise.

The 18-member citizens’ panel was formed in response to Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission which released its own set of recommendations over the summer and does not have any authority to force changes.

But the panel said Pennsylvania has a chance to learn from its mistakes, citing the environmental devastation caused by coal mining a century ago.

“Once again, Pennsylvania is managing a veritable gold rush. For some it could not come soon enough. For others, the legacy of Pennsylvania’s coal economy is an everpresent and ominous reminder of what can and will happen without thoughtful preparation and timely intervention,” the report said.