St. Louis, February 22 – Patriot Coal Corporation today announced that it has temporarily suspended active mining operations at its Federal No. 2 mine near Fairview, West Virginia after discovering potentially adverse atmospheric conditions on Thursday, February 18 in an abandoned area of the mine. As a safety precaution, and in accordance with federal regulations, the Company immediately evacuated all personnel from the mine.

The Company is currently conducting additional testing and is working with the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety & Health Administration to develop a plan to address this issue so that active mining operations can resume. A limited number of personnel have been permitted by MSHA to re-enter the mine to maintain the mine and equipment until active mining operations resume, the timing of which is uncertain at this time.