JR wrote:

Jeff Miller wrote:

for those who care about the smoky mountains in nc and tenn.....


OK, after much thrashing about, I have found at least one document in
that devil's maze of links that I believe I may have a chance of
tackling in the time left me on this earth.... the 46-page summary of
the 544 page(!) DEIS.....

http://www.northshoreroad.info/deism...ry/summary.pdf

So, am I right in assuming the right-thinking among you local folks
believe the Monetary Settlement Alternative is what we want (as opposed
to the No Action Alternative?

JR
(who notes that in the section devoted to federally protected species
which may be negatively affected, the Indiana Bat is mentioned *before*
the bald eagle.....)

well...there was that agreement back in the 40s that needs to be
considered in some fashion. the buy-out is the only honorable
alternative...and 52-54 million is a bargain. recent cost estimates
just to build the road are now around $400 million. i'd say from an
immediate economic cost perspective, it's a no-brainer. plus it frees
up money to build roads in iraq.

bald eagles are making a comeback, and anything from indiana found in nc
is definitely a uniquely endangered and unusual specimen.

jeff