58 Pa.C.S. § 7

Within 90 days of the effective date of this section, the Department of Transportation shall issue a statement of policy, effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, adopting an appropriate methodology to provide letters of local determination that identify particular vehicles, routes or uses as local in nature. The Department of Transportation may determine that hauling related to unconventional oil and gas development is excluded from local traffic status based on its disproportionate and qualitatively different impact upon highways and bridges. The methodology shall allow for exemptions from 67 Pa. Code Ch. 189 (relating to hauling in excess of posted weight limit) related to at-risk industry sectors in this Commonwealth that have experienced a 20% or more decline in Statewide employment since 2002 or that demonstrate other evidence of economic decline as determined by the department in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry. The exemptions and related requirements shall remain in existence until December 31, 2015.