Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Acquisition of Macarthur On August 1, 2011, the Company and ArcelorMittal SA (ArcelorMittal) launched an all-cash off-market takeover offer to acquire a controlling ownership interest in Macarthur. The offer was made by a newly formed Australian company, PEAMCoal Pty Ltd (PEAMCoal), indirectly owned 60% by the Company and 40% by ArcelorMittal. Subsequent to the takeover offer, ArcelorMittal elected to sell its interest in PEAMCoal to the Company in lieu of proceeding with the PEAMCoal joint venture. As a result, the Company will own 100% of PEAMCoal and will become the owner of all the Macarthur shares tendered in the takeover offer to acquire Macarthur. ArcelorMittal must continue funding PEAMCoal for 90 days from October 25, 2011, and the Company has that timeframe to complete financing to purchase ArcelorMittal's interest in PEAMCoal. Together with the Company's funding obligations, this will cover all share purchase acceptances. PEAMCoal's offer of $16.00 Australian dollars per share, which was agreed to by Macarthur's board of directors in August 2011, will increase to $16.25 Australian dollars per share if PEAMCoal acquires relevant interests in at least 90% of Macarthur shares by 7:00 p.m. (Brisbane, Australia time) on November 11, 2011. PEAMCoal reserves the right to extend this date. The $16.25 Australian dollars per share offer price values the equity in Macarthur at approximately $4.9 billion Australian dollars (or approximately $5.1 billion U.S. dollars as of November 2, 2011). On October 23, 2011, the Company announced that PEAMCoal had acquired more than 50.01% of Macarthur's shares and that the takeover offer had become unconditional. Any holders that have validly tendered their Macarthur shares may no longer withdraw such tendered shares, and any shares subsequently tendered may not be withdrawn. The Company intends to finance the acquisition of Macarthur with cash on hand, borrowings under its Credit Facility, senior term loan facility (Term Loan Facility), and other long term debt financing or borrowings under our bridge loan credit agreement (Bridge Facility). The Term Loan Facility and Bridge Facility are discussed in more detail below. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, PEAMCoal purchased shares of Macarthur in the open market for $45.5 million (see Note 3). On November 2, 2011, PEAMCoal had a 75.5% relevant interest in Macarthur’s shares. Bridge Facility On July 29, 2011, the Company entered into a bridge commitment letter with certain lenders that committed to provide to the Company unsecured bridge financing of up to $2.0 billion, the proceeds of which may be used to finance, in part, the acquisition of Macarthur. On October 24, 2011, the Company entered into the Bridge Facility that contains the negotiated terms and conditions originally contemplated in the bridge commitment letter. The Bridge Facility matures 364 days following its effectiveness. Any initial funding of the Bridge Facility must occur by April 29, 2012. The Company pays certain customary fees and expenses, including fees on the unused portion of the bridge commitments and a duration fee, which are described below. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded charges of $12.7 million related to the Bridge Facility, which were recorded in “Interest expense” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. On October 28, 2011, the Company reduced the Bridge Facility commitment to $1.0 billion, in connection with the Term Loan Facility described below. Borrowings under the Bridge Facility bear interest, at the Company's option, at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate (defined as the highest of (a) the Bank of America prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin increases based on the number of days that have elapsed since the initial funding under the Bridge Facility and may adjust from 3.00% up to 4.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at LIBOR and from 2.00% up to 3.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at the base rate, in each case, depending on the number of days elapsed. The Company will also pay a duration fee calculated as a percentage of any aggregate borrowings outstanding at the 90th, 180th, and 270th day following the initial borrowing at a rate of 1.00%, 1.50% and 2.00%, respectively. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Bridge Facility as of September 30, 2011 or November 3, 2011. The Bridge Facility is voluntarily prepayable from time to time without premium or penalty, subject to certain customary reimbursements of the lenders’ costs, and is mandatorily prepayable with the net cash proceeds from the issuance of certain specified equity securities, the issuance of certain indebtedness, certain dispositions of assets or the receipt of certain casualty insurance proceeds. The obligations under the Bridge Facility are unsecured and are guaranteed by the Company's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that guarantee the Company's Credit Facility. The Bridge Facility contains covenants, including financial covenants, and events of default substantially the same as those set forth in the Credit Facility. Term Loan Facility On October 28, 2011, the Company entered into the Term Loan Facility, that permits the Company to borrow an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion, which will be available in multiple drawings for a period of six months. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility will be used to finance, in part, the acquisition of Macarthur. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest, at the Company's option, at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate (defined as the highest of (a) the Bank of America prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin depends on the ratio of the Company's consolidated debt to its adjusted consolidated EBITDA, and may range from 1.75% to 3.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at LIBOR and from 0.75% to 2.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at the base rate. The obligations under the Term Loan Facility are unsecured and are guaranteed by the Company's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that guarantee the Company's Credit Facility. The Term Loan Facility contains covenants, including financial covenants, and events of default substantially the same as those set forth in the Credit Facility. The Term Loan Facility is voluntarily prepayable from time to time without premium or penalty, subject to certain customary reimbursements of the lenders’ costs. The Term Loan Facility will be subject to quarterly amortization of 1.25% commencing six months after the initial funding, with the final payment of all amounts outstanding due five years from the date of such initial funding. As of November 3, 2011, the Company had $1.0 billion of borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan Facility. MF Global UK Limited On October 31, 2011, MF Global UK Limited (MF Global UK), a United Kingdom (U.K.) based broker-dealer, was placed into the U.K.'s administration process (a process similar to bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S.) by the Financial Services Authority following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of its U.S. parent, MF Global Holdings Ltd. The Company had used MF Global UK to broker certain of its coal trading transactions. The interruption of the Company's trading operations was limited as the Company opened new accounts with different brokerage firms and transferred most of its open trading positions formerly held with MF Global UK to those new accounts. While the open trading positions were transferred from MF Global UK successfully, the related margin posted by the Company will be retained by MF Global UK pending resolution of the Company's claims with the special administrators. As such, there will be a period of time where the Company has funds remaining at MF Global UK and margin posted with its new brokerage firms. The Company had funds remaining with MF Global UK totaling approximately $39 million as of October 31, 2011.

Subsequent Events

Acquisition of Macarthur

On August 1, 2011, the Company and ArcelorMittal SA (ArcelorMittal) launched an all-cash off-market takeover offer to acquire a controlling ownership interest in Macarthur. The offer was made by a newly formed Australian company, PEAMCoal Pty Ltd (PEAMCoal), indirectly owned 60% by the Company and 40% by ArcelorMittal. Subsequent to the takeover offer, ArcelorMittal elected to sell its interest in PEAMCoal to the Company in lieu of proceeding with the PEAMCoal joint venture. As a result, the Company will own 100% of PEAMCoal and will become the owner of all the Macarthur shares tendered in the takeover offer to acquire Macarthur. ArcelorMittal must continue funding PEAMCoal for 90 days from October 25, 2011, and the Company has that timeframe to complete financing to purchase ArcelorMittal's interest in PEAMCoal. Together with the Company's funding obligations, this will cover all share purchase acceptances.

PEAMCoal's offer of $16.00 Australian dollars per share, which was agreed to by Macarthur's board of directors in August 2011, will increase to $16.25 Australian dollars per share if PEAMCoal acquires relevant interests in at least 90% of Macarthur shares by 7:00 p.m. (Brisbane, Australia time) on November 11, 2011. PEAMCoal reserves the right to extend this date. The $16.25 Australian dollars per share offer price values the equity in Macarthur at approximately $4.9 billion Australian dollars (or approximately $5.1 billion U.S. dollars as of November 2, 2011).

On October 23, 2011, the Company announced that PEAMCoal had acquired more than 50.01% of Macarthur's shares and that the takeover offer had become unconditional. Any holders that have validly tendered their Macarthur shares may no longer withdraw such tendered shares, and any shares subsequently tendered may not be withdrawn.

The Company intends to finance the acquisition of Macarthur with cash on hand, borrowings under its Credit Facility, senior term loan facility (Term Loan Facility), and other long term debt financing or borrowings under our bridge loan credit agreement (Bridge Facility). The Term Loan Facility and Bridge Facility are discussed in more detail below.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, PEAMCoal purchased shares of Macarthur in the open market for $45.5 million (see Note 3). On November 2, 2011, PEAMCoal had a 75.5% relevant interest in Macarthur’s shares.

Bridge Facility

On July 29, 2011, the Company entered into a bridge commitment letter with certain lenders that committed to provide to the Company unsecured bridge financing of up to $2.0 billion, the proceeds of which may be used to finance, in part, the acquisition of Macarthur. On October 24, 2011, the Company entered into the Bridge Facility that contains the negotiated terms and conditions originally contemplated in the bridge commitment letter. The Bridge Facility matures 364 days following its effectiveness. Any initial funding of the Bridge Facility must occur by April 29, 2012.

The Company pays certain customary fees and expenses, including fees on the unused portion of the bridge commitments and a duration fee, which are described below. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded charges of $12.7 million related to the Bridge Facility, which were recorded in “Interest expense” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

On October 28, 2011, the Company reduced the Bridge Facility commitment to $1.0 billion, in connection with the Term Loan Facility described below.

Borrowings under the Bridge Facility bear interest, at the Company's option, at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate (defined as the highest of (a) the Bank of America prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin increases based on the number of days that have elapsed since the initial funding under the Bridge Facility and may adjust from 3.00% up to 4.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at LIBOR and from 2.00% up to 3.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at the base rate, in each case, depending on the number of days elapsed. The Company will also pay a duration fee calculated as a percentage of any aggregate borrowings outstanding at the 90th, 180th, and 270th day following the initial borrowing at a rate of 1.00%, 1.50% and 2.00%, respectively. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Bridge Facility as of September 30, 2011 or November 3, 2011.

The Bridge Facility is voluntarily prepayable from time to time without premium or penalty, subject to certain customary reimbursements of the lenders’ costs, and is mandatorily prepayable with the net cash proceeds from the issuance of certain specified equity securities, the issuance of certain indebtedness, certain dispositions of assets or the receipt of certain casualty insurance proceeds.

The obligations under the Bridge Facility are unsecured and are guaranteed by the Company's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that guarantee the Company's Credit Facility. The Bridge Facility contains covenants, including financial covenants, and events of default substantially the same as those set forth in the Credit Facility.

Term Loan Facility

On October 28, 2011, the Company entered into the Term Loan Facility, that permits the Company to borrow an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion, which will be available in multiple drawings for a period of six months. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility will be used to finance, in part, the acquisition of Macarthur. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest, at the Company's option, at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin or (ii) a base rate (defined as the highest of (a) the Bank of America prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin depends on the ratio of the Company's consolidated debt to its adjusted consolidated EBITDA, and may range from 1.75% to 3.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at LIBOR and from 0.75% to 2.00% per year for borrowings bearing interest at the base rate.

The obligations under the Term Loan Facility are unsecured and are guaranteed by the Company's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that guarantee the Company's Credit Facility. The Term Loan Facility contains covenants, including financial covenants, and events of default substantially the same as those set forth in the Credit Facility.

The Term Loan Facility is voluntarily prepayable from time to time without premium or penalty, subject to certain customary reimbursements of the lenders’ costs. The Term Loan Facility will be subject to quarterly amortization of 1.25% commencing six months after the initial funding, with the final payment of all amounts outstanding due five years from the date of such initial funding. As of November 3, 2011, the Company had $1.0 billion of borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan Facility.

MF Global UK Limited

On October 31, 2011, MF Global UK Limited (MF Global UK), a United Kingdom (U.K.) based broker-dealer, was placed into the U.K.'s administration process (a process similar to bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S.) by the Financial Services Authority following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of its U.S. parent, MF Global Holdings Ltd. The Company had used MF Global UK to broker certain of its coal trading transactions. The interruption of the Company's trading operations was limited as the Company opened new accounts with different brokerage firms and transferred most of its open trading positions formerly held with MF Global UK to those new accounts. While the open trading positions were transferred from MF Global UK successfully, the related margin posted by the Company will be retained by MF Global UK pending resolution of the Company's claims with the special administrators. As such, there will be a period of time where the Company has funds remaining at MF Global UK and margin posted with its new brokerage firms. The Company had funds remaining with MF Global UK totaling approximately $39 million as of October 31, 2011.