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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
TDD (800) 828-1120 — Virginia Relay Center
PROGRAMS

ADMINISTRATION
GAS AND OIL
GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
MINED LAND REPURPOSING
MINERAL MINING
MINES
OFFSHORE WIND
RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Virginia Department of Energy
Washington Building / 8th Floor
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-3638
(804) 692-3200        FAX (804) 692-3237
www.energy.virginia.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2022
Tarah Kesterson

(276) 356-3405
[email protected]
Project Reclaim Regional Industrial Site Ready for Business
Virginia Department of Energy’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization
Program provided $4,844,893 in federal grant dollars
CLEVELAND, VA- Russell County is open for business as they cut the ribbon on a new regional
industrial park. Known as Project Reclaim, the idea began as an application to the Virginia
Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) in 2017 for federal funding through the Abandoned Mine
Land Economic Revitalization Program.  Five years and nearly $5 million later, this 160 acre site
is one-of-a-kind with unique marketing assets to potential businesses.
“Project Reclaim is in a great position to host new economic development and provide jobs in the
coalfields region,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith. “Abandoned Mine Land Economic
Revitalization Program funding helped turn this location from an abandoned coal processing plant
to an industrial site. I look forward to the opportunities it will bring to the people of Russell
County.”
“We expect to see hundreds of people driving to work here very soon,” said Virginia Energy
Deputy Director Will Clear. “Land where coal was processed for many decades is getting
another chance to serve Russell County as a highly competitive industrial site.”
Because of its coal industry history, Project Reclaim offers existing rail line, access to a sufficient
and robust electrical grid, over a mile of maintained road and an abundance of water and natural
gas supply.
“We are now able to successfully compete for business we might not have imagined before,” said
Russell County Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Ernie McFaddin.
“This site should prove as a model of how mined land reclamation can be key in economic
development.”
mailto:[email protected]
PROGRANS
ADMINSTRATION
GASAOOL
(GEOLOGY AND MNERAL RESOURCES
NED LAND REPURPOSNG
MINERAL MING
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Virginia Department of Energy
‘Washington Building / 8" Floor
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-3638
(804) 692-3200 FAX (804) 692-3237
www.energy. virginia. gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2022
Tarah Kesterson
(276) 356-3405
tarah.kesterson@energy virgin:
Project Reclaim Regional Industrial Site Ready for Business
Virginia Department of Energy’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization
Program provided $4,844,893 in federal grant dollars
CLEVELAND, VA- Russell County is open for business as they cut the ribbon on a new regional
industrial park. Known as Project Reclaim, the idea began as an application to the Virginia
Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) in 2017 for federal funding through the Abandoned Mine
Land Economic Revitalization Program. Five years and nearly $5 million later, this 160 acre site
is one-of-a-kind with unique marketing assets to potential businesses.
“Project Reclaim is in a great position to host new economic development and provide jobs in the
coalfields region,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith. “Abandoned Mine Land Economic
Revitalization Program funding helped turn this location from an abandoned coal processing plant
to an industrial site. I look forward to the opportunities it will bring to the people of Russell
County.”
“We expect to see hundreds of people driving to work here very soon,” said Virginia Energy
Deputy Director Will Clear, “Land where coal was processed for many decades is getting
another chance to serve Russell County as a highly competitive industrial site.”
Because of its coal industry history, Project Reclaim offers existing rail line, access to a sufficient
and robust electrical grid, over a mile of maintained road and an abundance of water and natural
gas supply.
“We are now able to successfully compete for business we might not have imagined before,” said
Russell County Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Ernie McFaddin.
“This site should prove as a model of how mined land reclamation can be key in economic
development.”
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
‘TDD (800) 828-1120 ~- Virginia Relay Center
In addition to site preparation, Russell County Reclamation, the company responsible for the
reclamation and on-site construction, also removed 32 acres of coal waste. Coal waste is material
that was once considered invaluable in coal mining before 1977. It contains pieces of coal and
other minerals and is often harmful to nearby watersheds.
“We were so glad to be able to remove the hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of coal waste
through this project,” said Russell County Reclamation Partner John Matney. “That also
meant protecting 2,000 feet of stream bank that is part of our very sacred Clinch River Watershed.
We celebrate the economic and environmental impact of the work completed here today.”
Russell County Reclamation removed an old preparation plant that had operated on the site since
the 1950’s and closed ten portals left behind by coal mining that occurred before 1977. Further
development on nearby parcels was funded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission.
The Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program originated in a federal omnibus bill
in 2017. Virginia Energy has received $10 million annually for economic development on
abandoned mine lands. The program administered is by the Office of Surface Mining and
Reclamation Enforcement.

In addition to site preparation, Russell County Reclamation, the company responsible for the
reclamation and on-site construction, also removed 32 acres of coal waste. Coal waste is material
that was once considered invaluable in coal mining before 1977. It contains pieces of coal and
other minerals and is often harmful to nearby watersheds.
“We were so glad to be able to remove the hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of coal waste
through this project,” said Russell County Reclamation Partner John Matney. “That also
meant protecting 2,000 fect of stream bank that is part of our very sacred Clinch River Watershed.
We celebrate the economic and environmental impact of the work completed here today.”
Russell County Reclamation removed an old preparation plant that had operated on the site since
the 1950’s and closed ten portals left behind by coal mining that occurred before 1977. Further
development on nearby parcels was funded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission.
The Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program originated in a federal omnibus bill
in 2017. Virginia Energy has received $10 million annually for economic development on
abandoned mine lands. The program administered is by the Office of Surface Mining and
Reclamation Enforcement.
HHH