8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 21, 2010

Patriot Coal Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-33466	20-5622045
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

12312 Olive Boulevard, Suite 400
St. Louis, Missouri
(Address of principal executive offices) 63141
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 275-3600

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On June 21, 2010, Patriot Coal Corporation (“Patriot”) issued a press release announcing its plans for a mine closure. A copy of Patriot’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

     The information contained in this Current Report (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

     The following exhibit relating to Item 7.01 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1*	Press Release of Patriot Coal Corporation dated June 21, 2010.

* Furnished herewith

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: June 21, 2010

PATRIOT COAL CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Mark N. Schroeder
	Mark N. Schroeder
	Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1*	Press Release of Patriot Coal Corporation dated June 21, 2010.

* Furnished herewith

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE
	CONTACT: Janine Orf (314) 275-3680

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PATRIOT COAL ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF HARRIS NO. 1 MINE

ST. LOUIS, June 21 — Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE: PCX) reported today that its operating subsidiary, Eastern Associated Coal, LLC, has terminated mining operations at its Harris No. 1 mine near Wharton, West Virginia as a result of sudden adverse geologic conditions in the primary conveyor belt and travel entries of the mine. The Company determined today that the current and anticipated geologic conditions have caused continued mining operations to become impractical. Therefore, the Company intends to permanently close the mine.

     The Harris No. 1 mine was nearing the end of its projected mining life and was scheduled for closure in 2011. “The decision today accelerated this impending closing, and although earlier than we would have liked, is the right decision considering conditions at the mine now and what we could experience in the coming months,” said Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Whiting. A limited number of personnel will remain at the mining operation to close and reclaim the mine site in accordance with state and federal regulations.

About Patriot Coal

Patriot Coal Corporation is a leading producer and marketer of coal in the eastern United States, with 14 current mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. The Company ships to domestic and international electric utilities, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1.8 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves. The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCX.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may be beyond our control and may cause our actual future results to differ materially from expectations. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements. Factors that could

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affect our results include, but are not limited to: price volatility and demand, particularly in higher margin products; geologic, equipment and operational risks associated with mining; changes in general economic conditions, including coal and power market conditions; the availability and costs of competing energy resources; legislative and regulatory developments; risks associated with environmental laws and compliance; developments in greenhouse gas emission regulation and treatment; coal mining laws and regulations; labor availability and relations; the outcome of pending or future litigation; changes in the costs to provide healthcare to eligible active employees and certain retirees under postretirement benefit obligations; changes in contribution requirements to multi-employer retiree healthcare and pension funds; reductions of purchases or deferral of deliveries by major customers; availability and costs of credit; customer performance and credit risks; inflationary trends; worldwide economic and political conditions; downturns in consumer and company spending; supplier and contract miner performance and the availability and cost of key equipment and commodities; availability and costs of transportation; the Company’s ability to replace coal reserves; the outcome of commercial negotiations involving sales contracts or other transactions; our ability to respond to changing customer preferences; failure to comply with debt covenants; the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; and weather patterns affecting energy demand. The Company undertakes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein, please refer to the Company’s Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports.

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