Road to Nowhere - GSMNP

The NPS is spineless on this issue and the reason is that the local
Congressman, Charles Taylor, is a big supporter of the Road to Nowhere AND
is chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommitte on the Interior.

They did come up with an "environmentally preferred alternative" which is
paying the $54 million in compensation to Swain County. The Swain County
Commissioners, the Bryson City Town Council, Gov. Mike Easley of NC, and
Sen. Lamar Alexander of TN all want this alternative to be selected.

If push came to shove, I would say that the majority of the residents in
Swain County want the monetary compensation instead of the road. I have a
number of clients whose families were moved out so as to build Fontana Dam
and Lake as well as from the Park itself. While some want the road for
sentimental reasons (visit gravesites, etc.), the majority are looking at
the monetary settlement as the way to insure that their children and
grandchildren won't have to leave Swain County in search of work.

Rep. Charles Taylor steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the locals who don't
want the road and continues to push for the road. My hope is that the
Abramoff scandal does him in as he has taken money from Abramoff and a
number of Indian tribes. He will have a possibly strong opponent this year
in Heath Shuler who was quarterback for the U. of Tenn. and the Redskins.
While I think he is a mental lightweight, he does have good name recognition
AND is from Swain County. He may win or he may do like all of Taylor's
opponents since 1990 and go down the tubes.

FWIW this is my view from WNC.

John
"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:QrYwf.7566$Dh.1935@dukeread04...
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

************************************************** ***************


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.