AMLER Grant to Provide for Airport Infrastructure Needs

A $1.2 million grant from Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) will support the infrastructure needs for the future Breaks Regional Airport in Buchanan County, Va. Thanks to a coal synergy project between Wellmore Coal Co. and the airport authority, the future airport site will have expanded water service and new telecom fiber.

More than 1.5 million tons of coal were mined from the site, and the rough grade runway for the airport was left as the post mine land use during reclamation. In addition to the runway, some 80 acres of property to be used for future commercial development surrounding the new airport is being made available. The site sits near lands originally mined for coal before 1977. The current Wellmore project involved the elimination of a highwall and additional mining that in turn resulted in cost savings in site development for the airport authority.

“The Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) congratulated the Breaks Regional Airport Authority, Wellmore Coal and others involved in the development of this important project in Buchanan County,” said MCPA President Ben Beakes. “The synergy between a coal company, the Virginia Department of Energy and the airport authority in making a project like this possible illustrates the value of coal mining, not only from a reclamation standpoint, but also for what met coal makes possible, steel, which is needed for critical infrastructure.” The MCPA is a regional association of leading U.S. metallurgical (met) coal producers in Appalachia.

J.P. Richardson, president of Metinvest’s Wellmore Coal Co., who also serves as chairman of the MCPA, noted the project in Buchanan County provided 60 jobs for miners during the mining and construction phase. He said it took “perseverance, vision and cooperation” to complete the project. He cited the Breaks Regional Airport Authority, Metinvest, CNX Resources and the Virginia Department of Energy for their cooperation and assistance in the development of the project.

“Infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth; and public investments in these projects will open up more private dollars to be spent here in Buchanan County,” said Randy Moore, Virginia Energy director of coal programs. “None of this would be possible, of course, without the coal mining of the past. Because coal was removed from this very mountain many decades ago, we are able to use this very funding to prosper from this land once again. In fact, mining has had a full circle role as the site development will directly benefit from the surface mining that occurred here just months ago.”

Moore noted Virginia Energy has increased focus on innovative reclamation. Finding opportunities for coal operators to help set the stage for future development, he added, is a top priority for the agency.

“There is no better way to describe these developments than with the old phrase, win-win,” Moore said. “The cost savings through reclaiming for economic development trickle down to everyone involved. We commend the Breaks Regional Airport Authority for having that vision may years ago.”

Among those on hand for the celebration Friday included Ninth District Congressman Morgan Griffith and representatives of the Breaks Regional Airport Authority, Virginia Energy, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority,  Terra Tech Engineering,  the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority, Wellmore employees and representatives of Sen. Todd Pillion and Del. Will Morefield.

The project includes 1.5 miles of upgraded waterline and around 4,000 feet of telecom fiber conduit along State Route 718 which is the road to the future airport. It also improves services to residents who live near the development.

“These grant dollars contribute to a vision we’ve had for Buchanan County for a long time,” said Breaks Regional Airport Authority Chairman James Keen. “This project will provide new water lines and upgraded service for the new airport and the adjoining commercial property. Residents living along Airport Road will also benefit from those upgraded services.”