Press Releases

Peabody Energy's Rawhide and Caballo mines in Campbell County, Wyo., have been honored for safety excellence by the State Mine Inspector and the Wyoming Mining Association.

The Wyoming State Mine Inspector annually honors mines with the lowest incident frequency rates at the Wyoming Mining Association Convention, which was held this year in Laramie, Wyo.

The Mine Inspector recognized the Rawhide Mine with its First Place Award for Surface Mine Safety in the small mine category after Rawhide reported the best safety performance among its peers: 1.33 incidents per 200,000 hours worked in 2008. The operation sold 18.4 million tons of coal last year and has a workforce of 230.

The Inspector also awarded the Caballo Mine with its Second Place Award for Surface Mine Safety in the large mine category. Caballo's workers operated more than 927,000 hours in 2008 without an injury requiring an employee to miss work. With an incident rate of 0.66, the mine performed nearly 60 percent better than the industry average for surface mines. The operation shipped approximately 31 million tons of coal in 2008 and employs a workforce of approximately 420.

"I salute the workforce at Rawhide and Caballo for making safety a way of life and setting a standard that is recognized by our peers and top mining authorities in the state," said Eric Ford, Peabody Energy Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "Both mines are setting the pace in our pursuit of the ultimate vision: zero incidents of any kind."

These honors come on the heels of Peabody's safest year in 2008. Peabody's U.S. mines achieved a 1.70 incident rate per 200,000 hours worked. Caballo and Rawhide have been consistently recognized as Wyoming's safest mines, together earning the distinction twice in the last five years.

Peabody earned 11 awards for safety excellence in 2008. The company's operations also contributed $14 billion in direct and implied economic benefits into communities around the world.

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company, with 2008 sales of 256 million tons and $6.6 billion in revenues. Its coal products fuel 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

  CONTACT:
  Meg Gallagher
  (314) 342-7963

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Peabody Energy