UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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): November 30, 2011
Patriot Coal Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | |
| Delaware | | 001-33466 | | 20-5622045 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| | | | |
12312 Olive Boulevard, Suite 400 St. Louis, Missouri | | 63141 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 275-3600
Not Applicable
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted. Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Act requires a Current Report on Form 8-K if a company receives written notice from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) that a company mine has (1) a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards that are of such nature as could have significantly and substantially contributed to the cause and effect of coal or other mine health or safety hazards under section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”) or (b) the potential to have such a pattern.
On November 30, 2011, MSHA notified Pine Ridge Coal Company, LLC (“Pine Ridge”) that a potential pattern of violations under Section 104(e) of the Mine Act exists at Pine Ridge’s Big Mountain No 16 mine. Pine Ridge has been working with MSHA to develop an appropriate corrective action plan and will continue to do so. No employees have been harmed and production remains unaffected by the notification. In October 2009, MSHA notified Pine Ridge of a potential pattern of violations at the Big Mountain No. 16 mine, but withdrew the notification after it was discovered that the Big Mountain No. 16 mine had been erroneously identified.
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: December 6, 2011
| | |
PATRIOT COAL CORPORATION |
| |
| By: | | /s/ Mark N. Schroeder |
| | Mark N. Schroeder Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
