Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information, By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Total revenues	$ 457,946	[1]	$ 400,343	[1]	$ 881,204	[1]	$ 781,004	[1]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense	289,566	[2]	250,942	[2]	548,886	[2]	492,201	[2]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	159,674	[3]	140,580	[3]	314,312	[3]	270,277	[3]
Total assets	1,626,010		1,153,502		1,626,010		1,153,502		1,501,278
Capital expenditures	78,651		97,391		142,433		174,848
Illinois Basin [Member]
Total revenues	323,214	[1]	296,949	[1]	640,801	[1]	591,586	[1]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense	193,023	[2]	174,590	[2]	373,267	[2]	347,443	[2]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	124,201	[3]	115,872	[3]	254,934	[3]	230,001	[3]
Total assets	798,452		759,487		798,452		759,487
Capital expenditures	37,913		51,191		73,354		83,389
Central Appalachia [Member]
Total revenues	57,521	[1]	40,928	[1]	105,226	[1]	80,690	[1]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense	39,535	[2]	31,921	[2]	73,052	[2]	64,746	[2]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	17,563	[3]	8,911	[3]	31,134	[3]	15,834	[3]
Total assets	91,271		80,656		91,271		80,656
Capital expenditures	5,498		3,161		11,855		4,520
Northern Appalachia [Member]
Total revenues	69,493	[1]	57,973	[1]	123,196	[1]	98,975	[1]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense	51,579	[2]	41,616	[2]	92,893	[2]	73,587	[2]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	15,622	[3]	14,121	[3]	25,937	[3]	21,111	[3]
Total assets	367,514		286,740		367,514		286,740
Capital expenditures	34,315		42,684		55,773		85,991
Other And Corporate [Member]
Total revenues	10,967	[1]	10,835	[1]	20,644	[1]	21,346	[1]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense	8,678	[2]	9,157	[2]	18,337	[2]	18,018	[2]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	2,288	[3]	1,676	[3]	2,307	[3]	3,331	[3]
Total assets	369,763		29,326		369,763		29,326
Capital expenditures	925		355		1,451		948
Business Intersegment, Eliminations [Member]
Total revenues	(3,249)	[1],[4]	(6,342)	[1],[4]	(8,663)	[1],[4]	(11,593)	[1],[4]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense	(3,249)	[2],[4]	(6,342)	[2],[4]	(8,663)	[2],[4]	(11,593)	[2],[4]
Segment Adjusted EBITDA		[3],[4]
Total assets	$ (990)	[4]	$ (2,707)	[4]	$ (990)	[4]	$ (2,707)	[4]

[1] Revenues included in the Other and Corporate column are primarily attributable to the Matrix Group revenues, Mt. Vernon transloading revenues, administrative service revenues from affiliates and brokerage sales.

[2] Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense includes operating expenses, outside coal purchases and other income. Transportation expenses are excluded as these expenses are passed through to our customers and consequently we do not realize any gain or loss on transportation revenues. We review Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense per ton for cost trends.

[3] Segment Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and general and administrative expenses. Management therefore is able to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating profitability as it relates to our revenues and operating expenses, which are primarily controlled by our segments. Consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net income as follows (in thousands):

[4] The elimination column represents the elimination of intercompany transactions and is primarily comprised of sales from the Matrix Group to our mining operations.