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Exhibit 5.1
[Arch Coal letterhead]
September 5, 2000
Arch Coal, Inc.
CityPlace One, Suite 300
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am the Vice President--Law & General Counsel of Arch Coal, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have acted as such in connection with
the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed by
the Company on September 1, 2000 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the public
offering by Ashland Inc. (the "Selling Stockholder") of an aggregate of up to
4,756,968 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company, including up to an aggregate of 620,473 Shares as to which Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, the U.S. underwriter, and Merrill Lynch
International, the international manager, will have options to purchase from the
Selling Stockholder solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments.
I am familiar with the Registration Statement. I have reviewed the
Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and
Amended and Restated Bylaws. I have also examined such other public and
corporate documents, certificates, instruments and corporate records, and such
questions of law, as I have deemed necessary for purposes of expressing an
opinion on the matters hereinafter set forth.
On the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares are duly
authorized and have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement and to the use of my name in the prospectus forming a part thereof
under the caption "Legal Matters."
Yours truly,
/s/ Robert G. Jones
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Robert G. Jones
Vice President--Law & General Counsel
