Press Releases

Peabody Energy's Farmersburg Mine has earned a National Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior for restoration of prime farmland. The award recognizes "the most exemplary reclamation in the country" and was presented today at the U.S. Office of Surface Mining's 27th Reclamation Excellence Awards ceremony conducted in Las Vegas. The Farmersburg Mine is operated by Peabody subsidiary Black Beauty Coal Company.

The Farmersburg Mine was honored for developing innovative reclamation techniques that improve crop yields. The methods include doubling the amount of rooting material and soils to restore productivity, which improves the availability of water and nutrients for deep-rooted crops. Other techniques include controlling erosion through terraces and cover crop growth, as well as using GPS technology to monitor soil fertility and pH levels for optimum conditions.

"Our environmental team has a strong record of stewardship that continues to show leadership in innovation," said Midwest Group Executive Daniel S. Hermann. "We are proud to demonstrate our commitment to continuous environmental improvement by leaving the land in a condition that is better than we found it."

Peabody's success in restoring farmland has been recognized by numerous excellence in reclamation awards, which include the U.S. Department of the Interior's prestigious 2001 Director's Award for Black Beauty's results in Indiana and Illinois.

Peabody operations and affiliates have been recognized with 30 major awards for stewardship in the past five years for a range of projects including wildlife habitat restoration in West Virginia and Wyoming, reforestation in Kentucky, protection of cultural resources in Arizona and reclamation of prime farmland in Indiana and Illinois.

Last year, Peabody reclaimed nearly 6,000 acres of land and planted nearly a half million trees. The company also provided more than $50 million to a federal fund to reclaim other formerly mined lands.

The Farmersburg Mine, located near Pimento, Ind., has operated since 1996 and produces more than 4 million tons of coal annually.

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company, with 2003 sales of 203 million tons and $2.8 billion in revenues. Its coal products fuel more than 10 percent of all U.S. electricity and more than 2.5 percent of worldwide electricity.

The use of "Peabody," "the company," and "our" relate to Peabody, its subsidiaries and majority-owned affiliates.

Editor's Note: Images may be downloaded from http://www.peabodyenergy.com/ .

   CONTACT:
   Beth Sutton
   (314) 342-7798

SOURCE: Peabody Energy