FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *   Nelson Greg W. 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 08/01/2008 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO [EMN] (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 SOUTH WILCOX DRIVE 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP & Chief Technology Officer 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) KINGSPORT, TN 37660 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 2,000 I 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	11/01/2006(1)	10/31/2015	Common Stock	7,000	$ 53.51	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	10/31/2007(2)	10/30/2016	Common Stock	7,000	$ 60.92	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	10/30/2008(3)	10/29/2017	Common Stock	3,450	$ 66.15	D	Â
Phantom Stock Units	  (4)	  (4)	Common Stock	157	$ 0 (4)	D	Â

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Nelson Greg W. 200 SOUTH WILCOX DRIVE KINGSPORT, TN 37660	Â	Â	  SVP & Chief Technology Officer	Â

Signatures

Brian L. Henry by Power of Attorney		08/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	One third of option became exercisable on each of November 1, 2006 and November 1, 2007 and one third of option becomes exercisable on November 1, 2008.
(2)	One third of option became exercisable on October 31, 2007 and one third of option becomes exercisable on each of October 31, 2008 and October 31, 2009.
(3)	One third of option becomes exercisable on each of October 30, 2008, October 30, 2009 and October 30, 2010.
(4)	Phantom Stock Units credited under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, each having a value equal to one share of issuer common stock and payable only in cash and, subject to certain acceleration and early withdrawal provisions, after termination of employment.

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