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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003
         (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:  May 9, 2003

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