CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Jan 21 2003 - Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today announced that two of its West Virginia subsidiaries recently received environmental honors for reclamation excellence in West Virginia from the Society of American Foresters and the West Virginia Coal Association.

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) presented Arch's Catenary Coal subsidiary with The Woodlands West Virginia Award for the planting, growing and managing of premium commercial woodlands. SAF, with the help of mine inspectors from the Department of Environmental Protection, identifies and recognizes reclamation excellence that ensures the growth of future forest ecosystems. This is only the third award granted since 1998.

Arch of West Virginia received the Reclamation Award from the West Virginia Coal Association for the complete rehabilitation and revegetation of an abandoned surface mine, including the elimination of 700 feet of highwall from a former operation at no cost to the Abandoned Mine Lands Program.

"We're very honored," said Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal's president and chief executive officer. "We operate by a social contract to return the land to a productive state once mining is complete. It's very rewarding to be recognized for doing good work in supporting that philosophy."

In addition, Arch's Coal-Mac subsidiary received the state's top reclamation award from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection last week. This marks the second consecutive year that Arch subsidiaries received top honors among its peers in West Virginia.

Arch Coal is the nation's second largest coal producer and mines low-sulfur coal exclusively. Through its subsidiary operations in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, Arch provides the fuel for approximately 6 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. Founded in 1900, it is the largest professional society for foresters in the world.