“While our asset position and contracting strategies give us relative strength, we are taking these actions to match production with customer demand,” said Kemal Williamson, Peabody president for the Americas. “We regret the impact of these actions on our employees, their families and the surrounding communities in the Campbell and Converse County areas.”

A Peabody spokeswoman said the layoffs were effective immediately, adding that the company is taking steps to “ease the transition through severance and outplacement support.”

Peabody employs around 1,500 people at its Powder River Basin mines, with the vast majority of those working at North Antelope Rochelle. The mine will have a payroll of roughly 1,150 people after the layoffs are completed.

Logan Bonacorsi, an Arch spokeswoman, said the company’s decision to cut roughly 230 positions at Black Thunder was a result of the ongoing weakness in the thermal coal market.

The company has made efforts to reduce mining costs and improve efficiencies, but the slack market necessitated additional cost-cutting measures, she said.

Black Thunder employees were being informed of the news Thursday morning. Employees there will be offered a severance package including transitional medical coverage.