Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN 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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0362
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 1.0

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
EAVES JOHN W
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ARCH COAL INC [ACI] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive VP & COO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

ONE CITYPLACE DRIVE		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2005
(Street)


ST. LOUIS, MO 63141		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock   01/14/2005   A 1,460     (2)   (2) Common Stock
1,460
$ 34.9 1,460
D
 
Phantom Stock   01/31/2005   A 3,660     (2)   (2) Common Stock
3,660
$ 36.55 5,120
D
 
Phantom Stock   03/03/2005   A 10,980     (2)   (2) Common Stock
10,980
$ 45.01 16,100
D
 
Phantom Stock   03/15/2005   A 31     (2)   (2) Common Stock
31
$ 43.05 16,131
D
 
Phantom Stock   06/15/2005   A 23     (2)   (2) Common Stock
23
$ 54.71 16,155
D
 
Phantom Stock   09/14/2005   A 19     (2)   (2) Common Stock
19
$ 63.67 16,174
D
 
Phantom Stock   12/14/2005   A 16     (2)   (2) Common Stock
16
$ 80.05 16,190
D
 
Phantom Stock   01/13/2006   A 1,460     (2)   (2) Common Stock
1,460
$ 85.13 17,650
D
 
Phantom Stock   01/30/2006   A 3,660     (2)   (2) Common Stock
3,660
$ 86 21,310
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
EAVES JOHN W
ONE CITYPLACE DRIVE
ST. LOUIS, MO 63141		       Executive VP & COO  

Signatures

/s/ Gregory A. Billhartz, Attorney-in-Fact 02/14/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(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) Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive the value in cash of one share of Arch Coal, Inc. common stock. The shares of phantom stock are held by the executive officer through the Arch Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") and represent past compensation, the vested portion of restricted stock awards and/or payouts under other incentive compensation arrangements that the executive officer elected to defer under the Plan into a hypothetical investment in shares of Arch Coal, Inc. Common stock and/or dividends attributable to such deferred amounts.
(2) Shares of phantom stock are payable in cash on the date or dates elected by the executive officer, subject to the terms of the Plan. The executive officer may transfer any or all of the phantom stock account into an alternative investment account at any time.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.