Appalachia is America's easternmost coal region, where Patriot operations sold approximately 20.6 million tons of metallurgical and steam coal during 2008 for customers in the United States and abroad. In July 2008, Patriot more than doubled its Appalachian production base through the purchase of Magnum Coal.

Big Mountain
The Big Mountain mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by one company-operated mine, Big Mountain No. 16, and multiple contractor-operated mines. Coal is produced utilizing continuous mining methods. The coal is sold on the thermal market and is transported via the CSX railroad. Most of the employees at the company-owned and operated facilities are represented by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). Coal is produced from the Coalburg seam, with average thickness of eight feet, and the Dorothy seam, with an average thickness of six feet.

Blue Creek
Blue Creek is located in southern West Virginia. During the second quarter of 2009, the construction of the Blue Creek preparation plant was completed. The Blue Creek complex will consist of two underground mines in the Stockton seam, with an average thickness of eight feet, utilizing room-and-pillar continuous mining methods. Coal will be sold on the thermal market and will be transported via barge on the Kanawha River.

Campbell's Creek
The Campbell's Creek mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by two underground mines, Campbell's Creek No. 7 and Campbell's Creek No. 6. Employees at the Campbell's Creek mining complex are not represented by a union. Patriot utilizes the room-and-pillar continuous mining method at the Campbell's Creek mining complex. The coal is sold on the thermal market and is transported via barge on the Kanawha River. Coal is produced from the Winifrede seam, with an average mining thickness of seven and one half feet, and the Stockton seam, with an average mining thickness of six and one half feet.

Corridor G
The Corridor G mining complex, formerly referred to as Hobet, is located in southern West Virginia and consists of two surface mines. Patriot utilizes truck-and-shovel/loader and dragline mining at the Corridor G mining complex. Coal is sold on the thermal market and is transported via the CSX railroad. Most employees are represented by the UMWA. Coal is sourced from the Kittanning, Stockton and Coalburg seams, with a 16-to-1 average overburden to coal ratio.

Federal
The Federal mining complex is located in northern West Virginia and is sourced by one company-operated mine, Federal No. 2, utilizing longwall and continuous mining methods. All coal is sold on the high-Btu steam market and is transported via the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads. Most employees are represented by the UMWA. Coal is produced from the Pittsburgh seam, with average thickness of seven feet.

Kanawha Eagle
The Kanawha Eagle operation is located in southern West Virginia. The Kanawha Eagle preparation plant is sourced by three company-owned mines utilizing continuous mining methods. Processed coal is sold on both metallurgical and thermal markets and is transported via the CSX railroad and via barge on the Kanawha River. Coal is produced from the Coalburg seam, with average thickness of six feet, and the Eagle seam, with average thickness of four feet. The labor force is contracted through a third party and is not represented by a union.

Logan County
The Logan County mining complex, formerly referred to as Apogee, is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by one company-operated surface mine. Coal is produced using the truck-and-shovel/loader mining method. The coal is sold on the thermal market and is transported via the CSX railroad. Certain employees are represented by the UMWA. Coal is sourced from the Freeport, Kittanning, Stockton and Coalburg seams, with a 15-to-1 average overburden to coal ratio.

Paint Creek
The Paint Creek mining complex, formerly referred to as Samples, is located in southern West Virginia and consists of one surface mine and one underground mine. Patriot utilizes truck-and-shovel/loader and highwall mining at the surface mine and the room-and-pillar continuous mining method at the underground mine. Coal is sold on both the thermal and metallurgical markets and is transported via the CSX railroad or via barge on the Kanawha River. Employees at the Paint Creek mining complex are not represented by a union. Coal at the surface mine is sourced from the Freeport, Kittanning, Stockton and Coalburg seams, with a 16.5-to-1 average overburden to coal ratio. Coal at the underground mine operates in the Hernshaw seam, with an average mining thickness of six and one-half feet.

Panther
The Panther mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and consists of one underground mine. Patriot utilizes the room-and-pillar continuous mining and longwall mining methods at the Panther mining complex. The coal is sold on both metallurgical and thermal markets and is transported via barge on the Kanawha River. Employees at the Panther mining complex are not represented by a union. Coal is produced from the Eagle seam, with an average mining thickness of five and three quarter feet.

Rocklick
The Rocklick mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by two company-operated mines, Harris No. 1 and Black Oak, and multiple contractor-operated mines. Coal is produced utilizing continuous mining methods. All Harris coal is sold on the metallurgical market and most of the contractor processed coal is sold on the thermal market. Rocklick has the capability to transport coal on both the CSX and the Norfolk Southern railroads. Most employees at the company-owned and operated facilities are represented by the UMWA. Operations at the Black Oak mine were suspended in the first quarter of 2009 until demand increases for metallurgical coal. Metallurgical coal is produced from the Eagle seam, with average thickness of three feet if only the lower split is mined, or 5 feet if both seam splits are mined. Steam coal is produced from the Winifrede seam, with average thickness of four feet, or surface mined from the Kittanning, Stockton, Clarion and Coalburg seams, with an 18-to-1 average overburden to coal ratio. In 2006, Harris transitioned to the James Creek reserves, allowing it to access additional metallurgical coal. We are developing the new Black Oak mine as we near the end of the James Creek reserves.

Wells
The Wells mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by one company-operated mine, Rivers Edge, and multiple contractor-operated mines. Coal is produced utilizing continuous mining methods. The majority of coal is currently sold on the metallurgical market and is transported by the CSX railroad. Thermal coal can also be produced and processed at this operation. Most employees at the company-owned and operated facilities are represented by the UMWA. Rivers Edge mine produces coal from the Powellton seam, with average thickness of five feet. Coal is also produced from the newly developed Black Stallion contract mine in the Eagle seam, with average thickness of five feet. Contract mines produce coal from the No. 2 Gas, Winifrede, Powellton, and Dorothy seams, with average thickness of four feet.