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

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

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

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 27, 2008 (October 27, 2008)</B>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>Arch Coal, Inc.<BR></B>
<FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>1-13105</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>43-0921172</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>
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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: 1px solid #000000"><B>CityPlace One<BR>One CityPlace Drive, Suite 300<BR>St. Louis, Missouri<BR></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>63141</B></TD>
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<TR valign="top">
    <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(314) 994-2700</B>


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    <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">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 align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</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">&#111;</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 align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">On October&nbsp;27, 2008, Arch Coal, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) issued a press release containing its third quarter 2008
financial results and updating guidance for its full year 2008 forecasted results. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as exhibit 99.1.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">The information contained in Item&nbsp;2.02 and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of
Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a
filing.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B>


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    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Exhibits</TD>
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<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">The following exhibit is attached hereto and filed herewith.

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Exhibit&nbsp;No.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Description</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release dated October&nbsp;27, 2008 announcing third quarter 2008 results.</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Signatures</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">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 align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Dated: October&nbsp;27, 2008



<P align="left" style="margin-left:46%; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: -11pt">Arch Coal, Inc.



<P align="left" style="margin-left:46%; font-size: 10pt">By: <U><B>/</B>s/ John T. Drexler&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>
John T. Drexler<BR>
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<BR>


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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;Index</B>


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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Exhibit&nbsp;No.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Description</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release dated October&nbsp;27, 2008 announcing third quarter 2008 results.</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">4




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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): October 27, 2008 (October 27, 2008)
Arch Coal, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
1-13105
43-0921172
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
CityPlace One
One CityPlace Drive, Suite 300
St. Louis, Missouri
63141
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(314) 994-2700
(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 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On October 27, 2008, Arch Coal, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release containing its third quarter 2008
financial results and updating guidance for its full year 2008 forecasted results. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as exhibit 99.1.
The information contained in Item 2.02 and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a
filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
The following exhibit is attached hereto and filed herewith.
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated October 27, 2008 announcing third quarter 2008 results.
1
Signatures
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.
Dated: October 27, 2008
Arch Coal, Inc.
By:
/
s/ John T. Drexler
John T. Drexler
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
2
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated October 27, 2008 announcing third quarter 2008 results.