SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Slone Deck (Last) (First) (Middle) ONE CITYPLACE DRIVE SUITE 300 (Street) ST. LOUIS MO 63141 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 07/28/2005	3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ARCH COAL INC [ ACI ]
		4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) VP Investor Rel & Public Aff	5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
			6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Options	(1)	07/23/2007	CommonStock	500	27.87	D
Employee Stock Options	(2)	02/29/2012	Common Stock	3,150	18.15	D
Employee Stock Options	(3)	04/25/2012	Common Stock	6,300	22.6	D
Employee Stock Options	(4)	07/22/2008	Common Stock	750	22.875	D
Employee Stock Options	(5)	02/22/2011	Common Stock	2,900	21.95	D
Phantom Stock	(6)	12/31/2008	Common Stock	2,700	(7)	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. These options vested as follows: 167 on 7/23/1998; 167 on 7/23/1999; and 166 on 7/23/2000.

2. The Stock Options vested or will vest as follows: 1,575 on 2/28/2005 and 1,575 on 2/28/2006.

3. These Stock Options vested or will vest as follows: 1,575 on 4/25/2003; 1,575 on 4/25/2004; 1,575 on 4/25/2005 and 1,575 on 4/25/2006.

4. These Stock Options vested as follows: 250 on 7/22/1999; 250 on 7/22/2000; and 250 on 7/22/2001.

5. These Stock Options vested as follows: 967 on 2/22/2002; 967 on 2/22/2003 and 966 on 2/22/2004.

6. The Phantom Stock will vest in the event the Company's common stock hits target prices of $70.00 or $80.00 and the Company's financial performance meets certain targets at such time.

7. 1-for-1

Remarks:

	/s/ Janet L. Horgan, Attorney-in-Fact	08/08/2005
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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