Patriot Coal Provides Statement Concerning Reports Issued By West Virginia Miners Health Safety and Training and MSHA

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Coal Corporation (OTC Pink: PATCA) today issued the following statement in response to the recent reports issued by the West Virginia Miners Health Safety and Training ("WVOMHST") and the Mine Safety & Health Administration ("MSHA") concerning the fatalities that occurred at Brody Mine No. 1 on May 12, 2014:

"We have received and are currently evaluating the reports issued by the WVOMHST and MSHA.  However, we believe that both reports omit key eyewitness testimony and other evidence from the investigation, and mischaracterize certain accounts of the events leading up to and including the tragic accident of May 12, 2014.  Most notably, the agencies' characterization of a rib roll incident on May 9 as a violent mine outburst and a precursor of the devastating May 12 accident contradicts sworn testimony from the majority of eyewitnesses.   

Brody intends to vigorously challenge the citations and orders that were issued by both agencies in conjunction with the investigation.  We look forward to presenting a full account of the events in this matter in the appropriate legal forum."

About Patriot Coal
Patriot Coal Corporation is a producer and marketer of coal in the eastern United States, with 10 active mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin.  Patriot ships to domestic and international electricity generators, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1.8 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking.  These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may be beyond the Company's control and may cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations.  Factors that could affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to factors detailed from time to time in the Company's reports and other information posted on its website or included in a press release.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 

SOURCE Patriot Coal Corporation