Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (36,875)	$ (3,170)	$ (29,162)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	45,594	44,690	44,254
Accretion of asset retirement obligation and receivable	10,878	11,540	9,974
Non-cash tax benefits			(17,062)
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities, net	657	590	279
Share-based compensation	4,721	4,049	2,552
Loss on sales of assets	640	226	191
Non-cash interest expense		1,236	1,470
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,515	2,304	1,975
Loss on extinguishment of debt	17,030
Loss (gain) on sales of investment securities	(150)	(604)	412
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments	3,079	3,456	(6,122)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net	5,491	(4,728)	15,503
Inventories	(2,125)	2,300	(1,217)
Excess of pneumoconiosis benefit obligation over trust assets	4,319	1,460	3,025
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	4,128	9,041	(13,802)
Deferred revenue	(9,918)	(7,399)	10,486
Accrual for workers' compensation	1,248	(841)	(1,619)
Asset retirement obligations	(6,510)	(7,783)	(2,219)
Accrual for postretirement medical benefits	(1,643)	(2,832)	7,762
Pension and SERP obligations	(1,278)	(3,902)	3,173
Other assets and liabilities	2,934	(4,280)	(405)
Net cash provided by operating activities	44,735	45,353	29,448
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(27,594)	(22,814)	(34,546)
Change in restricted investments and bond collateral and reclamation deposits	(5,986)	(8,545)	(4,601)
Cash payments related to acquisitions and other	(4,000)
Net proceeds from sales of assets	687	712	937
Proceeds from the sale of restricted investments	3,350	2,307	796
Receivable from customer for property and equipment purchases	(96)	(840)	(1,183)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,639)	(29,180)	(38,597)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in book overdrafts	(724)	(595)	596
Borrowings from long-term debt, net of debt discount	142,500		8,562
Repayments of long-term debt	(73,566)	(20,405)	(35,275)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit	87,200	170,900	94,116
Repayments on revolving lines of credit	(105,600)	(168,900)	(88,016)
Debt issuance costs and other refinancing costs	(15,019)	(1,925)	(256)
Preferred dividends paid	(21,301)
Exercise of stock options	422	8
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13,912	(20,917)	(20,273)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	25,008	(4,744)	(29,422)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	5,775	10,519	39,941
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	30,783	5,775	10,519
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	21,199	19,744	20,418
Cash paid (received) for income taxes	(250)	(236)	2,263
Non-cash transactions:
Accrued purchases of property and equipment	570	628	949
Capital leases and other financing sources	$ 531	$ 3,748	$ 11,286