[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 163 (Thursday, November 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12132-S12133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE NORTH SHORE ROAD MUST BE COMPLETED
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, for some time I have felt inclined to
discuss in the Senate a matter for the Record and of importance to the
people living in the far western counties of North Carolina and in the
beautiful mountains adjacent to the Tennessee border.
The matter involved is the federal government's finally fulfilling
after a fashion a commitment made in 1943 in writing by the U.S.
Government to the citizens of Swain County. The federal government
proposed to build a road along the north shore of Fontana Lake which
was created in World War II to provide power to the TVA. This written
commitment was made to citizens who voluntarily gave up their homes to
support the U.S.'s World War II defense efforts.
The federal government has not yet fulfilled its commitment, and that
has caused a great deal of resentment and mistrust of the government
among the citizens of Swain County and other surrounding counties on
the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
These citizens understandably believe that the federal government
should now live up to its written commitment made during World War II
because these people gave up their homes in order that Fontana Lake
could be built so that power could be generated by TVA.
But, there has been a curious development. A small group of citizens
in Swain County now proposes to ask that the federal government buy
them out, thereby voiding that federal government commitment made in
1943. They presented the proposal that they be bought out to the Swain
County Commissioners, and, praise the Lord, the commissioners rejected
this suggestion.
So as a result of the $16 million appropriation in the fiscal year
2001 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations
Bill, this project has at long last begun to move. The National Park
Service and the Federal Highway Administration have restarted this
process to complete that road as promised, in writing, in 1943 to the
citizens of Swain County and western North Carolina.
Mr. President, I have a letter in hand, along with the text of the
resolution adopted by the Swain County Commissioners which expresses
their thanks for the $16 million that provided for continued road
construction and improvements that were included in the fiscal year
2001 Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
[[Page S12133]]
The commissioners of Swain County want that road completed. The
people of Swain County want that road completed.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the aforementioned letter
and resolution be printed in the Record, following which I shall resume
my remarks.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
November 9, 2001.
Jesse Helms,
Dirksen Senate Building,
Washington, DC.
Senator Jesse Helms: I again take this opportunity to thank
you for the continued support you have showed for projects in
Swain County.
Attached is a statement, which you should have received
earlier, thanking you for the work you have done on behalf of
Swain County and the North Shore Road.
Sincerely Yours,
Jim Douthit,
Chairman, Swain County Commissioners.
____
Swain County Board of Commissioners
Statement regarding the appropriation of $16M for construction of and
improvements to the North Shore Road
The Swain County Board of Commissioners would like to thank
Senator Jesse Helms, Congressman Charles Taylor, and
President Bill Clinton for making available from the Highway
Trust Fund for Swain County 16 million dollars for
construction of and improvements to the North Shore Road in
Swain County North Carolina.
With the completion of this road, the federal government
will have fulfilled their contract with Swain County known as
the 1943 Agreement, then trust can be restored between Swain
County and the federal government. We feel this appropriation
will go a long way in helping Swain County.
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, roads in national parks are vital pieces of
economic infrastructure that fuel the engines of economic growth. In
fact, the National Park Service itself recognizes as much on its Web
site. Let me quote: ``Recreation travel accounts for 20 percent of
travel in the United States. Park roads are a vital part of America's
transportation network, providing economic opportunity and growth in
rural regions of the country. In addition to the park access, motor
tourism has created viable gateway communities en route. In some areas
entire economies are based on park road access. Examples include
communities near Yellowstone, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains
National Parks, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.''
Why on Earth, then, are these economic benefits denied to the people
living in the counties on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park? I will tell you why. The Department of the
Interior and the National Park Service have been held hostage by self-
proclaimed environmentalists and their sympathizers in the Interior
Department who are horrified, obviously, by their pretended
apprehension that environmental Armageddon will somehow result from the
construction of a simple ``two-lane dustless road,'' as specifically
called for in the 1943 agreement, signed by the Federal Government.
Mind you, this would be a Blue Ridge Parkway-type road allowing for
greater access on the North Carolina side of the park just as long ago
occurred on the State of Tennessee side a few miles west.
Additionally, according to the National Park Service statistics,
there are 5,000 miles of paved roads and 3,000 miles of unpaved roads
in the National Park System of this country. My question is, can
anybody seriously suggest that 30 more miles will cause an
environmental Armageddon? The thought is laughable. Of course not. But
that is the ringing cry of these professional environmentalists.
In fact, the Federal Government began building the road back in 1963,
and did build 2\1/2\ miles of it. In 1965, they built another 2.1
miles. Then in 1969, they built an additional mile, plus a 1,200-foot-
long tunnel.
That was when, Mr. President, the self-appointed environmentalists
created an uproar and forbade the Federal Government from going
further, which has caused, by the way, economic problems for the four
North Carolina counties surrounding the park that I am talking about.
Road engineering has improved enormously since that most recent
section was built in 1969. Many more improved methods are now available
to address the concerns thrown up by these self-appointed environmental
opponents of progress.
Let me make it clear, I have no problem with our Tennessee neighbors
who are ably represented by Senators Frist and Thompson, but I am
obliged, as a Senator from North Carolina, to emphasize some meaningful
and relevant statistics of the National Park Service.
In the 2000 report, which has the most recent statistics available,
the Park Service stated that 4,477,357 visitors came to the North
Carolina side of the park, while 5,698,455 visitors came to the
Tennessee side of the park. Of course, for anybody who wants to figure
it out, it is a difference of 1,221,098 visitors.
Additionally, according to the latest available retail sales per
capita figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the four Tennessee counties
surrounding the park have averaged $9,431.25, but the average for the
four North Carolina counties that need that road for more tourists to
come there have averaged $7,964.00, a difference of $1,467.25, if you
want to get down to the penny.
The North Carolina State average is $9,740.00 per capita, and the
Tennessee State average is $9,448.00 per capita. The four Tennessee
counties surrounding the park averaged just $16.75 under the Tennessee
State average. The four North Carolina counties, on the other hand--the
four counties of which we are talking about in terms of building this
road along the north shore of Fontana Lake--come in $1,776.00 under the
North Carolina average.
Now then, these figures are among countless indications of the
inequities between the North Carolina side and the Tennessee side of
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Let me assure the Administration of this: I have met with the
distinguished Director of the National Park Service, Fran Mianella and
she is a very pleasant lady--to let her know that this is a significant
issue with citizens of western North Carolina who have been neglected.
I am hopeful she and Secretary Norton will give this matter their
highest priorities and will continue to move this project well away
from those who have for too long been holding it hostage.
I will continue my opposition to a Federal buyout of the Federal
Government's commitment in 1943 to the citizens of Swain County and
western North Carolina. I commend the commissioners of Swain County for
standing flatfooted against it as well.
Mr. President, I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in
morning business for 5 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________