CHARLESTON, W.Va. (May 28, 2020) – Today, Gov.
Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP)
Sec. Austin Caperton held a virtual ceremony to announce the recommendation of
12 projects that will utilize $27,196,483 in federal grant funding for economic
development of abandoned mine land sites across the state.
“This is a lot of money and it could really and truly go a long way,” Gov.
Justice said. “Hopefully it’ll do a lot of great things in the areas where the
work will be happening – we have a lot of great things happening in West
Virginia.”
The grants, provided through the U.S. Office
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are administered by the
WVDEP’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands. The recipients applied for the grant
funding earlier this year and were each considered by a committee of
representatives from the WVDEP, West Virginia Department of Commerce, West
Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Governor’s Office.
The economic development projects must be
located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations prior to the
signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) on August 3,
1977.
OSMRE must give final approval of the projects
and amounts awarded.
“These kinds of economic development projects
are right in Governor Justice’s wheelhouse and he’s absolutely been a superstar
to the entire state for helping us make these valuable projects a reality in
West Virginia,” Sec. Caperton said. “We’ve received $105 million over the past
four years, all going into economic development activities, and we’ve already
received notice that we’re going to get another $25 million in funding for the
next year.”
“I want to thank all those involved in making
these projects a reality, the project leaders, our county commissioners,
mayors, members of the West Virginia Legislature and our West Virginia DEP,”
Gov. Justice added. “Without the commitment from each and every one of these
dedicated West Virginians, none of this would be possible.”
The projects recommended today include are as
follows:
Boone County: Indian Creek ATV Resort Project
- $3,378,000.
Building the Indian Creek ATV Resort to serve
as an anchor development for the newest Hatfield-McCoy Trail system in Boone
County. Project includes construction of 20 cabins, 15 RV Sites, and will be
the location of the new Coal River Trail System.
Fayette County: Oak Hill Sanitary Board/Minden
Sanitary Sewer System Rehabilitation - $1,500,000.
Upgrading existing sewer lines, pumping
stations, and sanitary collection system.
Kanawha County: Claudia L. Workman Wildlife
Education Center - $959,613.
Building an educational and wildlife viewing
center within the Forks of Coal State Natural Area, located on Corridor G, just
south of Charleston.
McDowell County: Renaissance Village -
$1,000,000.
Aiding in the construction of a housing
facility for teachers. The proposed facility will also have space available for
commercial use.
Mingo County: Twin Hollow Campgrounds and
Cabins Expansion Project - $2,699,422.
Expanding the Twin Hollow Campgrounds and
Cabins Resort in Mingo County to an even larger, more prominent destination
that will bring in thousands of Hatfield-McCoy Trail Riders annually and
facilitate a private sector investment of $3,970,230 over the next five years.
Preston County: Reclaiming the Cheat River as
an Economic Asset through Trail Investment and Nurturing Greenspace
(RECREATING) - $1,000,000.
Improving trail and river access by building a
destination trailhead at the Preston site.
Raleigh County: Harper Eccles Sewer Extension
Project - $7,647,398.
Providing approximately three miles of public
sewer to residents along Route 3 in Raleigh County.
Raleigh County: Rhodell Water Service Upgrade
Project - $2,125,000.
Constructing approximately three miles of
public water service to residents along Route 33 in Raleigh County.
Raleigh County: White Oak Waterline Extension
Project - $1,319,050.
Providing approximately 19,750 linear feet of
public water service to residents along the border of Raleigh and Summers
counties.
Tucker County: The Blackwater River Loop
Project - $818,000.
Constructing a water treatment system to
improve water quality of the north fork of the Blackwater River and make the
site a visitor-friendly education project. This project will also create a
scenic trail between the towns of Thomas and Davis and restore the Davis Coal
and Coke Company engineering building for use.
Wayne County: Fleming, An Old Mining Town
Transformation to Rustic Ravines - $250,000.
Building a lodge and wedding/conference venue,
cabins, cottages, pods, RV and ATV parks, tennis amenities, basketball
amenities, walking/hiking trails, ATV trails, an Alpine Coaster, a disc golf
course, a miniature golf course, and an indoor driving range to increase
tourism.
Wyoming County: Brenton and Baileysville
Waterline Extension Project - $4,500,000.
Providing water service to 254 customers,
Baileysville Elementary and Middle School, along with a potential expansion of
the Hatfield-McCoy Trail.
For more WVDEP news and
information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, connect with the agency on
all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter, Like us on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/depwv/, and find us on YouTube by
searching “Environment Matters.”
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