Westmoreland Announces First Coal Delivery to the West via New Rail Line

Westmoreland Coal Company (NasdaqGM:WLB) today announced that it delivered its first shipment of coal via a new rail wye built at Westmoreland Resources, Inc.’s Absaloka Mine located in Hardin, Montana. The new connection to the main rail line allows trains to ship coal to the West, providing increased market opportunities for Absaloka’s coal, which is coal leased from The Crow Tribe. The increased market opportunities could result in both increased coal royalties for The Crow Tribe, as well as increased mine employment opportunities. Westmoreland’s investment in the expansion of the rail line has already resulted in several new accounts including a test burn and spot sales to a new utility plant customer.

"Our team has worked very hard in concert with The Crow Tribe and the BNSF to make the completion of the western connection a reality,” noted Robert P. King, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The new rail line opens up Westmoreland’s sales opportunities to the West, allowing us to capitalize on our geographically-advantaged position in the North Powder River Basin.”

About Westmoreland Coal Company

Westmoreland Coal Company is the oldest independent coal company in the United States. The Company’s coal operations include sub-bituminous coal mining in the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming, and lignite mining operations in Montana, North Dakota and Texas. Its power operations include ownership of the two-unit ROVA coal-fired power plant in North Carolina. For more information, visit www.westmoreland.com.