Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Drexler John T.
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/01/2008		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ARCH COAL INC [ACI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
ONE CITY PLACE, SUITE 300		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr. V.P. and CFO
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

ST. LOUIS, MO 63141		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 951
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Options (right to buy)   (1) 02/29/2012 Common Stock 2,074 $ 9.08 D  
Employee Stock Options (right to buy)   (2) 04/25/2012 Common Stock 2,074 $ 11.3 D  
Employee Stock Options (right to buy)   (3) 07/22/2014 Common Stock 5,400 $ 16.1 D  
Employee Stock Options (right to buy)   (4) 02/22/2017 Common Stock 8,700 $ 32.99 D  
Employee Stock Options (right to buy)   (5) 02/21/2018 Common Stock 4,650 $ 52.69 D  
Employee Stock Options (right to buy)   (6) 04/24/2018 Common Stock 34,400 $ 56.84 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Drexler John T.
ONE CITY PLACE
SUITE 300
ST. LOUIS, MO 63141		       Sr. V.P. and CFO  

Signatures

/s/ Gregory A. Billhartz, Attorney-in-Fact 05/07/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The reporting person received 10,700 stock options on February 28, 2002. As of the date of this report, the reporting person has 2,074 stock options remaining which vested on February 28, 2006.
(2) The reporting person received 10,700 stock options on April 25, 2002. As of the date of this report, the reporting person has 2,074 stock options remaining which vested on April 25, 2006.
(3) The reporting person received 6,000 stock options on July 22, 2004. As of the date of this report, the reporting person has 5,400 stock options remaining. The stock options vested as follows: 2,000 stock options vested on July 22, 2005; 2,000 stock options vested on July 22, 2006; and 2,000 stock options vested on July 22, 2007.
(4) The reporting person received 8,700 stock options on February 22, 2007. The stock options vest as follows: 2,900 stock options vested on February 22, 2008; 2,900 stock options vest on February 22, 2009; and 2,900 stock options vest on February 22, 2010.
(5) The reporting person received 4,650 stock options on February 21, 2008. The stock options vest as follows: 1,550 stock options vest on February 21, 2009; 1,550 stock options vest on February 21, 2010; and 1,550 stock options vest on February 21, 2011.
(6) The reporting person received 34,400 non-qualified stock options on April 24, 2008. The stock options vest as follows: 11,467 stock options vest on April 24, 2009; 11,467 stock options vest on April 24, 2010; and 11,466 stock options vest on April 24, 2011.

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