The Centre for Biological Diversity, Coal River Mountain Watch, the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and the Sierra Club have filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for their failure to protect threatened northern long-eared bats at two proposed mountain top removal mines.

The bat species, whose number have declined 96% in its core range due to a lethal disease called white-nose syndrome, are found at both Republic Energy’s proposed Long Ridge Mine on Coal River Mountain in Raleigh Count and Jim Justice’s Big Creek mine in McDowell County.

“The failure to protect these bats is the latest example of coal companies getting a free pass in Appalachia when it comes to complying with the Endangered Species Act and other laws designed to protect the health of people and the environment,” Centre for Biological Diversity senior scientist Tierra Curry said.

“The wink and nod compliance with the law is having devastating effects on wildlife and human communities in Appalachia.”