ST. LOUIS, May 17, 2010 -- Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today announced that it has named William M. "Mike" Rowlands to the new position of director of Arch's Otter Creek operations in Montana. The company intends to open an office in Billings.

"I'm honored to oversee Arch's Otter Creek project in the great state of Montana," says Rowlands. "I'm enthusiastic about helping Arch Coal begin a brand new mining complex literally from the ground up."

Rowlands will be responsible for guiding the permitting process and will act as the liaison between the company and various stakeholders, including government agencies, surrounding communities and railroads. "Mike will act as Arch's primary representative in Montana," says Ken Cochran, president of Arch's Thunder Basin Coal Company. "With 32 years of experience at Arch in a range of important operational roles, Mike is the ideal person to move this promising, long-term development project forward."

Rowlands most recently served as the manager of engineering and environmental affairs at Arch's Thunder Basin Coal Company in Wyoming. Rowlands earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology and is a Registered Professional Engineer in four states.

"We are looking forward to building a world-class mining operation in Montana that reflects Arch's core values of excellence in safety and environmental stewardship," says Rowlands. "In the months ahead, we will be laying the foundation for this future mine, which will eventually provide hundreds of high-paying mining jobs as well as tremendous positive, indirect benefits to the regional economy. My wife and I are excited about relocating to the Billings area, and I am looking forward to working with neighbors, community members, governmental agencies and elected officials to create an operation of which the entire region can be proud."

St. Louis-based Arch Coal is the second largest U.S. coal producer. Through its national network of mines, Arch supplies cleaner-burning, low-sulfur coal to fuel roughly 8 percent of the nation's electricity. The company also ships coal to domestic and international steel manufacturers as well as international power producers.