PRICE, Utah (November 9, 2006) – The Arch Coal Foundation is expanding its prestigious Teacher Achievement Awards program to include four Utah counties – Carbon, Emery, Sanpete and Sevier – beginning this school year. These counties surround Arch's Dugout Canyon, Sufco and Skyline mines.

Five teachers from the four counties will be selected as recipients of a $2,500 personal, cash award. The awards are expected to be made near the end of the school year. The signature awards program is underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation.

"Now that Arch Coal is the sole owner and operator of the Canyon Fuel operations, it is time to bring this highly regarded program to the communities that our Utah employees and families call home," said Arch Coal's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steven F. Leer. "Education is the foundation for our nation's success, and we're demonstrating our appreciation for classroom teaching excellence through our awards program."

Arch Coal's Teacher Achievement Awards program was established in West Virginia more than 20 years ago and is now in its seventh year in Wyoming.

"This is an excellent teacher recognition program, and we're glad Utah can be a part of it," said Ken May, Sufco's general manager and past president of the Utah Mining Association. "The program slogan 'Teachers Change Lives' is very appropriate because we can all remember at least one special teacher who left a significant and positive impression on our lives."

How the program operates

The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program is unique because it features public nomination and peer selection. After all applications are received, a distinguished panel of experienced teachers selects the final recipients.

"The public nomination/peer selection process really does make our program different from any other," said May. "We collect nominations from the public – students, parents, grandparents, other teachers. Then nominated teachers complete an application that asks in-depth questions about their teaching philosophy and how they create the 'magic of learning.'

"The applications are then judged by other teachers who we believe are best equipped to identify excellence in the classroom," said May.

Nomination forms are available in schools in the four counties and at a number of public locations. Nominations also may be submitted online at www.archteacherawards.com

Program partners

"As our Utah program began to take shape, we knew we would require many local 'partners' to help us publicize our first teacher recognition effort," said May. "As some of our mine leadership and others made contact with businesses and organizations in the area, our program was welcomed and we are delighted to have so many partners in this inaugural year. This has assured us that the people in these four counties admire great teachers a much as we do."

May noted that, in addition to local businesses, the program gained the immediate support of the Office of Governor Jon Huntsman, as well as several state offices and statewide organizations. The list of partners includes the Office of the Governor, Utah State Office of Education, Utah Education Association, Utah School Superintendents Association, Carbon County School District, Emery County School District, Sevier County School District, North Sanpete School District, South Sanpete School District, Far West Bank, Market Express, KUSA FM/ KASL AM, and both TacoTime and Bookcliff Sales in Price.

Additionally, many companies that work on a daily basis with the Arch Coal mines have agreed to share information about the program with their Utah employees, May said.

About Arch Coal, Inc.

Arch Coal is Utah's largest coal producer and a large, state employer with a workforce of approximately 800. Through all its operations, Arch Coal is the nation's second largest coal producer. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.