Goodwill	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill	5. Goodwill An approximate 20% drop in the Company’s stock price during the first quarter of 2012, combined with significant decrease in thermal coal demand during the quarter, indicated that the fair value of the Company’s goodwill could be less than its carrying value. Accordingly, we performed the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test as of March 31, 2012. The fair value of all reporting units that have been assigned goodwill exceeded their respective carrying values, so no further testing was necessary. The value of our Black Thunder reporting unit, where $115.8 million of goodwill has been allocated, would be sensitive to future volume variations should thermal markets weaken further, which could cause us to perform step 2 of the test. The goodwill allocated to certain Appalachia reporting units is particularly sensitive to volatility in the demand for metallurgical coal. Should metallurgical coal markets weaken, it could cause the fair value of the reporting units to be less than their carrying value, requiring us to perform step 2 of the test for impairment. Additionally, further sustained declines in the Company’s stock price below levels experienced in the first quarter would also require us to perform step-2 of the test for impairment. Performance of step 2 of the impairment test, which requires a valuation of individual assets and liabilities of the respective reporting units in order to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill could result in an impairment of goodwill.

5. Goodwill

An approximate 20% drop in the Company’s stock price during the first quarter of 2012, combined with significant decrease in thermal coal demand during the quarter, indicated that the fair value of the Company’s goodwill could be less than its carrying value. Accordingly, we performed the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test as of March 31, 2012. The fair value of all reporting units that have been assigned goodwill exceeded their respective carrying values, so no further testing was necessary. The value of our Black Thunder reporting unit, where $115.8 million of goodwill has been allocated, would be sensitive to future volume variations should thermal markets weaken further, which could cause us to perform step 2 of the test. The goodwill allocated to certain Appalachia reporting units is particularly sensitive to volatility in the demand for metallurgical coal. Should metallurgical coal markets weaken, it could cause the fair value of the reporting units to be less than their carrying value, requiring us to perform step 2 of the test for impairment. Additionally, further sustained declines in the Company’s stock price below levels experienced in the first quarter would also require us to perform step-2 of the test for impairment. Performance of step 2 of the impairment test, which requires a valuation of individual assets and liabilities of the respective reporting units in order to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill could result in an impairment of goodwill.