for those who care about the smoky mountains in nc and tenn, here's some
info about the north shore road controversy. the spineless park service
officials have refused to take a position about the road. most on the
ground workers are against it. if you care about the park and all it
represents, please send a note to voicing
opposition to construction of the road.

the local nc politicos, including county and city officials, have agreed
to accept 54 million dollars as fair compensation in lieu of the road.
the road will cost in excess of 200 million dollars to build, and it
will forever alter a unique ecosystem and wild environment in the
eastern us.

jeff

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has scheduled the Public
Hearings for the North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Project for February 2-13, 2006.

At the Public Hearings, meeting attendees will have the opportunity to
provide input on the North Shore Road Draft EIS (DEIS) prior to the
selection of the Preferred Alternative. Meeting attendees that would
like to speak publicly during the hearing will need to sign up during
registration. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to speak, each
speaker will have 3 minutes to provide comments.

Court reporters will also be available to take verbal comments at the
Public Hearings. All recorded and written comments received or
postmarked by March 20, 2006 will be incorporated into the project record.

To view the latest project newsletter, which includes additional
information on the project and the Public Hearings, view
www.northshoreroad.info/newsletters.htm .

For information on the project and to view the DEIS, log on to
www.northshoreroad.info or contact GSMNP at (865) 436-1207.

Public Hearing Dates & Locations

Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. The Public Hearing will begin
promptly at 5:00 p.m.



Thursday, February 2

Swain County High School

Center for the Arts Auditorium

1415 Fontana Road

Bryson City, NC



Monday, February 6

Robbinsville High School

Auditorium

301 Swee****er Road

Robbinsville, NC



Tuesday, February 7

Asheville Renaissance Hotel

Salon B

One Thomas Wolfe Plaza

Asheville, NC



Thursday, February 9

Knoxville Marriott

Kentucky Room

500 Hill Avenue, SE

Knoxville, TN



Monday, February 13

Gatlinburg-Pittman High School

Auditorium

150 Proffitt Road

Gatlinburg, TN

We Need Your Input

Please submit your comments electronically by March 20, 2006 to the
following address:

(or by viewing
www.northshoreroad.info/comments.htm )

You may also mail your comments to the address below:

North Shore Road Project
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
P.O. Box 30185
Raleigh, NC 27622

Please reference the "North Shore Road EIS Project" in the subject line
of all e-mails.

Thank you.