EXHIBIT 99.1

                   CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORTS

I, Irl F. Engelhardt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peabody Energy
Corporation, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that:

(1)   the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (the
      "Periodic Report") which this statement accompanies fully complies with
      the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
      of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

(2)   information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all
      material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
      Peabody Energy Corporation.

Dated: March 7, 2003


                                        IRL F. ENGELHARDT
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Irl F. Engelhardt
                                        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer