Today, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced the selection of Preston County, West Virginia, as the site of a new Federal Correctional Institution. The $100 million facility, which will employ 350-400 staff and have an annual operating budget of $25 million, will be located just north of Interstate 68 at the Hazelton Exit near Bruceton Mills. The FBOP has determined the site, due to its superior topography and access, can be developed quickly and at reasonable cost.

This Record of Decision to build a Federal Correctional Institution in Preston County represents the second new Federal prison for West Virginia in the past year. In 1998, Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer announced the agency's plans to build a facility in Glenville, West Virginia. Construction on that project is expected to begin later this year. The FBOP currently operates facilities in Morgantown, Alderson and Beckley.

Sites in Ohio and Tyler counties were also under consideration as possible locations for a federal correctional facility. Both communities were found suitable by the FBOP, and both communities appeared to support the concept of hosting a federal correctional facility. The FBOP ,however, had concerns over previous mining activities at the Ohio County site and the accessibility of the Tyler site. Neither site has been ruled out for long-term future development if site problems are rectified through local initiative and the FBOP continues to require additional capacity in the Mid- Atlantic Region.

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