Despite concerns over impacting the habitats of endangered bats and mussels, work will go ahead on renovating a Marshall County river port.
The work will begin after receiving the go-ahead from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project on the Tennessee River in Calvert City has been delayed due to the potential impact on the endangered species.
Marshall County Judge-Executive Mike Miller said he and Calvert City Mayor Lynn Jones solicited the help of the Kentucky U.S. Congressional delegation in getting a biological opinion from the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“We do have some prospects," Miller said of the project. "Nothing in concrete, but in order to be ready to go, all of these environmental assessments had to be completed.”
In a statement, Sen. Mitch McConnell, who urged the USFWS to expedite the process, said this is great news for the area because the river port project is expected to generate economic growth and jobs.
Mayor Jones said the permit process is now being finalized with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and some preliminary construction could begin this fall.
