8-K

             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            
                  Washington, D.C.   20549
                      ________________
                            
                          FORM 8-K
                      ________________
                            
                       Current Report
           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                            

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 1, 1997
                                                  ---------------

                    ATLANTIC RICHFIELD COMPANY
  ----------------------------------------------------------
    (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                             Delaware
  ----------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

          1-1196                                  23-0371610
  -------------------------                  --------------------
  (Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer
                                              Identification No.)

 515 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, California      90071
- --------------------------------------------------    -------
     (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 486-3511
                                                    --------------

                          Not Applicable
 --------------------------------------------------------------
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Item 5.  Other Events.

     Press Release, dated April 1, 1997, announcing evaluation
of ARCO's likely withdrawal from its worldwide coal business.


                                - 2 -



                              SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD COMPANY


                                   /s/ ALLAN L. COMSTOCK
                                 _____________________________
                                 Allan L. Comstock
                                 Vice President and Controller

Dated:  April 2, 1997

                                 - 3 -

EX-99

ARCO [LOGO]    Media Relations                         N E W S
               515 South Flower Street
               Los Angeles CA  90071-2201
               Telephone 213 486 3385
               Facsimile 213 486 0169


               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 April 1, 1997


ARCO WEIGHS WITHDRAWAL FROM
WORLDWIDE COAL BUSINESS


       LOS ANGELES -- ARCO (NYSE: ARC) announced today it is evaluating

its likely withdrawal from its worldwide coal business through the

disposition of coal mining operations in the United States and Australia.

       "While ARCO has some of the best coal assets in the world, we no

longer regard them as part of our core business," said Mike R. Bowlin,

ARCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.   "With the acquisition of

western coal assets from Coastal Corporation, we believe that our

domestic business has achieved critical mass and is one of the premier

coal companies in the United States.  Our Australian coal mines are also

considered some of the highest quality operations in that country."

       In the United States, where ARCO is the fourth largest coal

producer, a stand-alone company will be formed from ARCO's mining

operations in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.  As part of its coal business

review, ARCO will investigate spinning off this new domestic coal company

to existing ARCO shareholders, as well as other alternatives.

       ARCO also said it is likely that it will monetize its Australian

coal interests through a public offering in the Australian equity markets

or an outright sale. 

       The overall process is expected to take at least six months and

could extend into 1998.




Page 2


       In the U.S., ARCO owns the Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines in

Wyoming, the West Elk mine in Colorado, and, through Canyon Fuel Company

L.L.C. with ITOCHU Corp. of Japan, three mines in Utah.  ARCO's Australian

holdings include joint venture interests in three mines in Queensland,

Australia  -- Curragh, Gordonstone and Blair Athol.  ARCO's coal interests

are operated by ARCO Coal Company, its Denver-based division.

       Net income from coal operations for 1995 and 1996 was $75 million

and $60 million respectively.  Coal assets totaled $1.75 billion at

year-end 1996.  ARCO Coal Company employment at year-end 1996 was 2,600,

including about 1,000 in Australia.

                                # # #


For information, contact:  (media):  Albert Greenstein, (213) 486-3384.
                           (investor):  Steve Enger, (213) 486-1811