Peabody Energy's Gateway Mine Earns Dual Honors for Safety Leadership in Illinois

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Peabody Energy

For the second consecutive year, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals recognized the Gateway Mine for achieving the lowest incidence rate in 2010 among underground Illinois mines with less than 500,000 work hours. The Gateway Mine Preparation Plant achieved the best safety record among peer facilities, operating without a lost-time incident in 2010.

'Safety is Peabody Energy's core value that guides us at work and away,' said Charles Meintjes, Peabody Energy Group Executive - Midwest and Colorado. 'Congratulations to the Gateway Mine leadership and workforce for their commitment toward our safety vision of zero incidents and contributions that helped Peabody achieve our safest year in history last year.'

In 2010, Gateway achieved a 3.80 incidence rate per 200,000 hours worked, a more than 30 percent improvement over the 2010 industry average for underground mines, according to U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration data. Located in Randolph County near Coulterville, Ill., Gateway Mine shipped approximately 3 million tons of coal in 2010.

Worldwide, Peabody has earned more than 30 awards for safety, financial leadership, stewardship and good neighbor practices in the past year. Peabody has continued to improve safety performance through the first half of 2011, achieving a record global safety rate of 1.84 and a U.S. safety rate of 1.18.

Peabody is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

CONTACT:

Meg Gallagher

(314) 342-7963

Peabody Energy

Web site: http://www.peabodyenergy.com/