Exhibit 99.1

News Release

Investor Contact:

Scott Morris

+1 859.519.3622

smorris@rhinolp.com

RHINO RESOURCE PARTNERS LP ANNOUNCES
SECOND QUARTER DISTRIBUTION AND EARNINGS
RELEASE DATE

LEXINGTON, KY (July 23, 2012) — Rhino Resource Partners LP (NYSE: RNO) (“Rhino” or the “Partnership”) today announced a cash distribution of $0.445 per common unit, or $1.78 per unit on an annualized basis.  This distribution will be paid on August 14, 2012 to all common unitholders of record as of the close of business on August 2, 2012.  No distribution will be paid on the subordinated units.

Dave Zatezalo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rhino’s general partner, stated “The coal market is cyclically depressed, and while our steam coal is well contracted through 2014, our metallurgical coal is contracted annually.  Our 2013 met coal contracts should be settled late in the third quarter of this year, and while we expect prices to be lower than 2012, we are uncertain how much lower the prices may be versus 2012 levels.  Given this uncertainty, the board of directors of our general partner has determined that the Partnership should use cash to reduce debt rather than continue to pay the subordinated distribution.  We believe this will put the Partnership in a stronger position at a time of severe market weakness.  We view this as a strong show of support from our sponsor, Wexford Capital LP, whose funds hold our subordinated units.  Management and the board of directors will continue to evaluate the outlook for the Partnership and the appropriate level of distributions, while taking the necessary steps to support the long term health and success of the Partnership. Despite the depressed coal markets, the results of our diversification efforts in the Utica are encouraging and we believe will provide substantial long term value to the Partnership going forward.”

Rhino today also announced that it plans to release its 2012 second quarter financial results on Thursday, August 2, 2012, before the market opens.  In connection with the earnings release, Rhino will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the quarter on Thursday, August 2, 2012, at 10:00 am (ET).

Participants should call 866-356-4281 (United States/Canada) or 617-597-5395 (International) and utilize the confirmation code 42145211. A telephonic replay will be available for anyone unable to participate in the live call. To access the replay, call 888-286-8010 (United States/Canada) or 617-801-6888 (International) and enter confirmation code 96456997. The recording will be available from 12:00 pm (ET) on Thursday, August 2, 2012 through Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). A live broadcast of the earnings conference call will also be available via the Internet at www.rhinolp.com under ‘Investor Relations’. The webcast will be archived on the site for one year.

This press release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Rhino’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.  Accordingly, Rhino’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

About Rhino Resource Partners LP

Rhino Resource Partners LP is a growth-oriented limited partnership.  Rhino produces metallurgical and steam coal in a variety of basins throughout the United States, it leases coal through its Elk Horn subsidiary, and it owns oil and gas acreage in the Utica and Cana Woodford plays.

About Wexford Capital LP

Rhino’s general partner, Rhino GP LLC, is an affiliate of Wexford Capital LP (“Wexford”).  Wexford is an SEC registered investment advisor with over $5.1 billion of assets under management.  Wexford has particular expertise in the energy/natural resources sector with actively managed investments in coal, oil and gas exploration and production, energy services and related sectors.  Through Wexford’s extensive portfolio of energy, resource and related investments, it sees an extensive flow of potential new investment opportunities, many of which could be suitable for Rhino.  Although Wexford has no obligation to provide such investment opportunities to Rhino, it has made available several of these investments to Rhino and expects to be in a position to continue to selectively source and underwrite for Rhino new coal, energy and related investment opportunities.

Additional information regarding Rhino and Wexford is available on their respective web sites — RhinoLP.com and Wexford.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for historical information, statements made in this press release are “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Rhino expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Rhino’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on Rhino’s business, operating results, financial condition and similar matters.  While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Rhino will be those that Rhino anticipates.  Whether actual results and developments in the future will conform to expectations is subject to significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond Rhino’s control or ability to predict. Therefore, actual results and developments could materially differ from Rhino’s historical experience and present expectations and what is expressed, implied or forecast in these forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: decline in coal prices, which depend upon several factors such as the supply of domestic and foreign coal, the demand for domestic and foreign coal, governmental regulations, price and availability of alternative fuels for electricity generation and prevailing economic conditions; increased competition in global coal markets and declines in demand for coal; current and future environmental laws and regulations which could materially increase operating costs or limit Rhino’s ability to produce and sell coal; extensive government regulation of mine operations, especially with respect to mine safety and health, which imposes significant actual and potential costs; difficulties in obtaining and/or renewing permits necessary for operations; a variety of operating risks, such as unfavorable geologic conditions, natural disasters, mining and processing equipment unavailability and failures and unexpected maintenance problems and accidents, including fire and explosions from methane; fluctuations in transportation costs or disruptions in transportation services could increase competition or impair Rhino’s ability to supply coal; a shortage of skilled labor; increases in raw material costs, such as steel, diesel fuel and explosives; Rhino’s ability to acquire replacement coal reserves that are economically recoverable; inaccuracies in Rhino’s estimates of coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits; existing and future laws and regulations regulating the emission of sulfur dioxide and other compounds could affect coal consumers and as a result reduce demand for coal; federal and state laws restricting the emissions of greenhouse gases; Rhino’s ability to acquire or failure to maintain, obtain or renew surety bonds used to secure obligations to reclaim mined property; Rhino’s dependence on a few customers and its ability to find and retain customers under favorable supply contracts; changes in consumption patterns by utilities away from the use of coal, such as resulting from low natural gas prices; disruption in supplies of coal produced by contractors operating Rhino’s mines; defects in title in properties that Rhino owns or losses of any of Rhino’s leasehold interests; increased labor costs or work stoppages; the ability to retain and attract senior management and other key personnel; and assumptions underlying reclamation and mine closure obligations are materially inaccurate.

Other factors that could cause Rhino’s actual results to differ from its projected results are described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  Rhino undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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