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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): March 13, 2009</B>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>WESTMORELAND COAL COMPANY<BR></B>
<FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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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>001-11155</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>23-1128670</B></TD>
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<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 style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>2nd Floor, 2 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO<BR></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>80903</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>(719) 442-2600</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:

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<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%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Westmoreland Coal Company (the &#147;Company&#148;) today reported financial results for 2008. The Company reported
a net loss applicable to common shareholders of $49.9&nbsp;million ($5.25 per diluted share) for 2008 compared to a net loss
of $23.2&nbsp;million ($2.53 per diluted share) for 2007. The 2008 net loss includes $13.3&nbsp;million in charges related to
various debt financings previously reported, a $2.6&nbsp;million expense for the settlement of two coal royalty claims, and
a $2.0&nbsp;million restructuring charge.&nbsp; These items were partly offset by the $0.9&nbsp;million gain on the sale of our
interest in the Ft. Lupton power project.&nbsp;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On March&nbsp;13, 2009, the Company issued a press release announcing the financial results for 2008. A copy
of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1.


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


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%">&nbsp; (c) &nbsp; Exhibits


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 &#151; Press release dated March&nbsp;13, 2009


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



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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.

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    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="3"><B>WESTMORELAND COAL COMPANY</B></TD>
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</DIV></TD>
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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Date:&nbsp;March&nbsp;13, 2009
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Kevin A. Paprzycki</TD>
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&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Kevin A. Paprzycki</TD>
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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(A Duly Authorized Officer)</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>


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    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
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    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
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    <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 March&nbsp;13, 2009</TD>
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Form 8-K
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): March 13, 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.)
2nd Floor, 2 North Cascade Avenue, 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 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Westmoreland Coal Company (the "Company") today reported financial results for 2008. The Company reported
a net loss applicable to common shareholders of $49.9 million ($5.25 per diluted share) for 2008 compared to a net loss
of $23.2 million ($2.53 per diluted share) for 2007. The 2008 net loss includes $13.3 million in charges related to
various debt financings previously reported, a $2.6 million expense for the settlement of two coal royalty claims, and
a $2.0 million restructuring charge.  These items were partly offset by the $0.9 million gain on the sale of our
interest in the Ft. Lupton power project.
On March 13, 2009, the Company issued a press release announcing the financial results for 2008. A copy
of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c)   Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 — Press release dated March 13, 2009
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: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Kevin A. Paprzycki
Kevin A. Paprzycki
Chief Financial Officer
(A Duly Authorized Officer)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated March 13, 2009