St. Louis, Missouri – December 22, 1999 - Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) announced today that Patrick A. Kriegshauser, its senior vice president and chief financial officer, has resigned to accept a senior level position with a private company in the St. Louis area. Mr. Kriegshauser joined Arch in 1985 and has held a variety of financial positions. He was appointed CFO in July 1996. Mr. Kriegshauser will remain with the company through the year-end close to provide transition assistance.

Steven F. Leer, president and chief executive officer of the company commenting on Mr. Kriegshauser’s resignation stated, "Pat has contributed greatly to the growth and success of Arch Coal. I will miss his advice and counsel. We wish Pat well in his new endeavor." Leer also stated that Henry Besten, currently vice president-strategic marketing, will assume Mr. Kriegshauser’s day-to-day management responsibilities on an interim basis until a new chief financial officer is named.

Arch Coal is one of the nation’s largest coal producers, with subsidiary operations in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. Through these operations, Arch Coal provides the fuel for approximately 6% of the electricity generated in the United States.