Guarantees	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Guarantees [Abstract]
Guarantees	14. Guarantees The Company has agreed to continue to provide surety bonds and letters of credit for obligations, primarily reclamation, of Magnum Coal Company (“Magnum”) related to the properties the Company sold to Magnum on December 31, 2005. Patriot Coal Corporation (“Patriot Coal”) acquired Magnum in July 2008. The surety bonding amounts are mandated by the state and are not directly related to the estimated cost to reclaim the properties. At June 30, 2012, the Company had $35.3 million of surety bonds remaining related to properties sold to Magnum, however Patriot Coal has posted letters of credit of $16.7 million in the Company’s favor. Magnum would have acquired a contract to supply coal through 2017 to a customer that had not consented to the contract’s assignment from the Company to Magnum. The Company has committed to purchase coal from Magnum to supply to the customer at the same price the customer is charged for the sale. Under the coal supply contract, as amended, Magnum has the ability to buy out of its monthly obligations under the contract at prices that are predetermined for the remainder of the agreement. Additionally, the Company has guaranteed the delivery of coal under a contract assigned to Magnum. If Magnum is unable to supply the coal for these coal sales contracts or pay the buy out amount if elected, then the Company may be required to fulfill Magnum’s delivery or payment obligations. The maximum financial impact to the Company if required to fulfill Magnum’s obligations over the term of these contracts would be approximately $70.0 million. On July 9, 2012 Patriot Coal filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, in order to undertake a comprehensive financial restructuring. Patriot has the expectation of continuing to serve customers, after receiving debtor-in-possession financing commitment. At this time, the Company does not believe that it is probable that it would have to purchase replacement coal, and, accordingly, no losses have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2012.

The Company has agreed to continue to provide surety bonds and letters of credit for obligations, primarily reclamation, of Magnum Coal Company (“Magnum”) related to the properties the Company sold to Magnum on December 31, 2005. Patriot Coal Corporation (“Patriot Coal”) acquired Magnum in July 2008. The surety bonding amounts are mandated by the state and are not directly related to the estimated cost to reclaim the properties. At June 30, 2012, the Company had $35.3 million of surety bonds remaining related to properties sold to Magnum, however Patriot Coal has posted letters of credit of $16.7 million in the Company’s favor.

Magnum would have acquired a contract to supply coal through 2017 to a customer that had not consented to the contract’s assignment from the Company to Magnum. The Company has committed to purchase coal from Magnum to supply to the customer at the same price the customer is charged for the sale. Under the coal supply contract, as amended, Magnum has the ability to buy out of its monthly obligations under the contract at prices that are predetermined for the remainder of the agreement. Additionally, the Company has guaranteed the delivery of coal under a contract assigned to Magnum. If Magnum is unable to supply the coal for these coal sales contracts or pay the buy out amount if elected, then the Company may be required to fulfill Magnum’s delivery or payment obligations. The maximum financial impact to the Company if required to fulfill Magnum’s obligations over the term of these contracts would be approximately $70.0 million.

On July 9, 2012 Patriot Coal filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, in order to undertake a comprehensive financial restructuring. Patriot has the expectation of continuing to serve customers, after receiving debtor-in-possession financing commitment. At this time, the Company does not believe that it is probable that it would have to purchase replacement coal, and, accordingly, no losses have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2012.