Patriot Coal Receives Four Reclamation Awards

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Coal Corporation today announced that it received four awards for exemplary restoration of surface mined lands.

    --  Apogee Surface Mine, Logan County Complex - received the Surface Mine
        Reclamation Award and the Turkey and Wildlife Habitat Award, each
        presented by the West Virginia Coal Association
    --  Hill Fork Surface Mine, Corridor G Complex - received the Surface Mine
        Reclamation Award, presented by the West Virginia Coal Association
    --  Westridge Surface Mine, Corridor G Complex - earned the Habitat Award,
        presented by Ducks Unlimited

'Restoring our properties to sustainable wildlife habitats supports our mission as a good corporate citizen. In these projects, as part of our detailed reclamation plans, we developed food and water sources to encourage turkeys, deer, ducks and other native populations to inhabit the reclaimed areas,' stated Patriot Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bennett K. Hatfield. 'We are pleased to once again be recognized for doing the right things in our communities.'

About Patriot Coal

Patriot Coal Corporation is a leading producer and marketer of coal in the eastern United States, with 13 active mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. The Company ships to domestic and international electricity generators, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1.9 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCX.

Patriot Coal Corporation

CONTACT: Janine Orf of Patriot Coal Corporation, +1-314-275-3680,

jorf@patriotcoal.com

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