CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Massey Energy says it's almost finished building the replacement for a West Virginia coal processing plant that burned last August.

Virginia-based Massey says the new plant should be fully operational by September. The Logan County operation will be renamed Zigmond Processing after retired director Richard Zigmond.

Massey says the new plant will employ more than 480 people and process coal from six mines. The company didn't say Wednesday whether they will be union workers.

The former Bandmill processing plant was one of the few Massey operations with employees represented by the United Mine Workers. UMW spokesman Phil Smith says the union contract remains in effect and members will return.

Massey owns the Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, where 29 men were killed in an explosion April 5.