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CLEVELAND, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) today announced David Webb will join the organization as senior vice president, global coal effective July 18, 2011. In this position, Mr. Webb will provide strategic leadership and drive operational performance at the Company's coal operations in North America, including two underground longwall operations and three continuous mining operations.  He reports to Duncan Price, executive vice president, president – global operations.

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Mr. Webb has over 30 years of experience as a mining engineer and senior manager in the coal and energy sectors.  Prior to joining Cliffs, Mr. Webb was vice president and general manager of mid-west operations for Patriot Coal Corp since 2007.  While at Patriot Coal he led all of the company's mining operations and properties in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, which have been recognized for outstanding safety and environmental performance.

Mr. Price said, "David's strong history of successfully operating coal properties in the Illinois basin will be instrumental to improving our operating performance in coal and this business' future success."

He began his career at Freeman United Energy Corporation where, he served for 25 years in various engineering and management roles within the underground coal mining operations. He also led mining, processing and terminal operations for Peabody Energy's Kentucky operations.

Mr. Webb received a Bachelor of Science, Mining Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.  He serves on the Illinois State Mining Board and as first vice chairman of the Kentucky Coal Association. He serves as a development board member at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is an international mining and natural resources company. A member of the S&P 500 Index, the Company is a major global iron ore producer and a significant producer of high- and low-volatile metallurgical coal. Cliffs' strategy is to continually achieve greater scale and diversification in the mining industry through a focus on serving the world's largest and fastest growing steel markets. Driven by the core values of social, environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs associates across the globe endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency.

The Company is organized through a global commercial group responsible for sales and delivery of Cliffs products and a global operations group responsible for the production of the minerals the Company markets. Cliffs operates iron ore and coal mines in North America and two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia. The Company also has a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia. In addition, Cliffs has a major chromite project, in the pre-feasibility stage of development, located in Ontario, Canada.

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SOURCE Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.