Patriot Coal Idling Five Mines

{Charleston,  West Virginia}...St. Louis-based Patriot Coal Corp. announced Friday it is idling five underground mines in southern West Virginia due to the declining demand for metallurgical coal. The closures include two mines operated by subsidiaries and two operated by contractors in Patriot Coal's Rocklick complex and two mines operated by contractors in the Wells complex. President and CEO Richard M. Whiting says Patriot expects to resume much of the cut production as demand improves.