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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): January 26, 2009</B>

<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>WESTMORELAND COAL
COMPANY<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter) </FONT>
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  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>001-11155</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>23-1128670</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

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  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
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  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>2 North Cascade Avenue, 2nd
Floor, Colorado Springs, CO<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>80903</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
 </TR>

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(719) 442-2600</B>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>



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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02. Departure of
Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">On January&nbsp;26,
2009, Mr.&nbsp;D.L. Lobb Jr. notified the board of directors of Westmoreland
Coal Company (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) of his resignation as President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director of the Company effective as of
January&nbsp;27, 2009.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was no disagreement or dispute between
Mr.&nbsp;Lobb and the Company that led to his resignation.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">On January&nbsp;26,
2009, the Company elected Keith E. Alessi as its Chief Executive Officer and
President effective as of January&nbsp;27, 2009. Mr.&nbsp;Alessi, 54, currently
serves as a director and Chairman of the Board of the Company&#8217;s board of
directors. From May to August&nbsp;2007, Mr.&nbsp;Alessi served as the
Company&#8217;s interim Chief Executive Officer and President and served as its
Chief Executive Officer and President from August&nbsp;2007 to April&nbsp;2008.
Mr.&nbsp;Alessi was also Chief Executive Officer of Lifestyle Improvement
Centers, LLC from April&nbsp;2003 to May&nbsp;2006. From 1999 to 2007,
Mr.&nbsp;Alessi was an adjunct professor of law at The Washington and Lee
University School of Law and, since 2001, has been an adjunct lecturer of
business at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Mr.&nbsp;Alessi currently serves on the board of directors and as chairman of
the audit committee of H&amp;E Equipment Services, Inc. and is a member of the
board of directors and the audit committees of Town Sports International
Holdings, Inc. and MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">In connection with his
appointment, the Company has agreed to provide Mr.&nbsp;Alessi with the
following compensation:

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  <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&#8226;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Annual salary paid at a rate of $600,000 per year; and</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&#8226;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Bonus opportunity under the Company&#8217;s
annual incentive plan of up to 70% of annual salary, with the bonus to be
determined by the board of directors or the compensation and benefits committee
in its discretion.</TD>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURE</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">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.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 45%" align="left"><B>WESTMORELAND COAL
COMPANY</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;January&nbsp;27,
2009

<P style="margin-top: -11pt; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 45%"
align="left">By: <U><B>/</B>s/ Morris W.
Kegley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
<BR>
Morris W. Kegley, General Counsel

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Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
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): January 26, 2009
WESTMORELAND COAL
COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-11155
23-1128670
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2 North Cascade Avenue, 2nd
Floor, Colorado Springs, CO
80903
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:
(719) 442-2600
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of
Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On January 26,
2009, Mr. D.L. Lobb Jr. notified the board of directors of Westmoreland
Coal Company (the "Company") of his resignation as President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director of the Company effective as of
January 27, 2009.  There was no disagreement or dispute between
Mr. Lobb and the Company that led to his resignation.
On January 26,
2009, the Company elected Keith E. Alessi as its Chief Executive Officer and
President effective as of January 27, 2009. Mr. Alessi, 54, currently
serves as a director and Chairman of the Board of the Company's board of
directors. From May to August 2007, Mr. Alessi served as the
Company's interim Chief Executive Officer and President and served as its
Chief Executive Officer and President from August 2007 to April 2008.
Mr. Alessi was also Chief Executive Officer of Lifestyle Improvement
Centers, LLC from April 2003 to May 2006. From 1999 to 2007,
Mr. Alessi was an adjunct professor of law at The Washington and Lee
University School of Law and, since 2001, has been an adjunct lecturer of
business at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Mr. Alessi currently serves on the board of directors and as chairman of
the audit committee of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. and is a member of the
board of directors and the audit committees of Town Sports International
Holdings, Inc. and MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.
In connection with his
appointment, the Company has agreed to provide Mr. Alessi with the
following compensation:
•
Annual salary paid at a rate of $600,000 per year; and
•
Bonus opportunity under the Company's
annual incentive plan of up to 70% of annual salary, with the bonus to be
determined by the board of directors or the compensation and benefits committee
in its discretion.
1
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.
WESTMORELAND COAL
COMPANY
Date:   January 27,
2009
By:
/
s/ Morris W.
Kegley
Morris W. Kegley, General Counsel
2