[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20169-20170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10024]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the North Shore Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the National, Park 
Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
analyze alternatives for resolving issues related to the North Shore 
Road. The purpose of this action is to discharge and satisfy any 
obligations on the part of the United States that presently exist as 
the result of the Memorandum of Agreement of October 8, 1943, between 
the U.S. Department of Interior, Tennessee Valley Authority, Swain 
County, North Carolina, and the state of North Carolina. The public 
scoping process for this EIS has been initiated with issuance of this 
notice. The purpose of the scoping process is to elicit public comment 
regarding the full spectrum of public issues and concern, including a 
suitable range of alternatives, the nature and extent of potential 
environmental impacts, and appropriate mitigation strategies, which 
should be addressed in the EIS process.

DATES: Beginning in the spring of 2003, public scoping meetings will be 
conducted in the vicinity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 
location, date, and time of the meetings and deadlines for written 
comments will be announced via local and regional media as follows: The 
Smoky Mountain Times, Bryson City, NC; The Cherokee One Feather, 
Cherokee, NC; The Mountaineer, Waynesville, NC; The Sylva Herald, 
Sylva, NC; Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC; The Smoky News, 
Waynesville, NC; The Mountain Press, Sevierville, TN; The Knoxville 
News-Sentinel, Knoxville, TN; The Daily Times, Maryville, TN; and other 
major newspapers in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, 
Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and 
Tennessee. Announcements will also be placed on the following Web 
sites: www.nps.gov\grsm and www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov. All interested 
individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend these 
meetings to comment orally and/or provide written comments or 
suggestions during the scoping period.

ADDRESSES: Any comments or requests for information should be addressed 
to Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park 
Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: North Shore Road EIS, Attn: 
Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park 
Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, Telephone: 865/436-1207 or 
Fax: 865/436-1220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July, 1943, the Tennessee Valley 
Authority (TVA), the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), the state of 
North Carolina, and Swain County, North Carolina, entered into a 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that dealt with the creation of Fontana 
Dam and Reservoir and the flooding of lands and roads within Swain 
County. As part of that agreement, 44,170 acres of land were ultimately 
transferred to the DOI and made part of the Great Smoky Mountains 
National Park (Park). The MOA also contained a provision by which the 
DOI was to construct a road through the Park, along the north shore of 
the newly formed Fontana Reservoir, to replace the flooded NC 288. The 
obligation of the DOI to construct the road was subject to and 
contingent on the appropriation by Congress of all funds necessary for 
the road's construction. The United States was at war when the MOA was 
executed and so no funds could be appropriated for construction. After 
the war, between 1948 and 1970, the DOI, through the National Park 
Service (NPS), built 7.2 miles of the proposed road.

[[Page 20170]]

(Approximately 30 miles remain to be constructed.) During the early 
construction projects, it was discovered that the route of the proposed 
road was through very unstable terrain, resulting in the possibility of 
landslides, both during and after construction, and requiring more 
invasive engineering techniques than originally considered. In 
addition, a particular strata encountered (Anakeesta) will produce 
acidic drainage when disturbed if not properly handled and contained. 
Due to these environmental concerns and costs, construction was 
discontinued in 1972. In the succeeding years, several ideas and 
proposals were explored to recompense the state and county for the 
flooded lands and road, but no agreement was ever reached. An 
appropriation of $16 million was included in the 2001 Department of 
Transportation budget ``for construction of, and improvements to, North 
Shore Road in Swain County, North Carolina.'' The DOI is seeking to 
develop a plan that will discharge and settle any obligations that it 
is currently under as a result of the circumstances described here, 
fulfilling its obligations to the Park and public.
    Recognizing that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
requires the consideration of a reasonable range of alternatives that 
will address the purpose and need, the EIS will include a range of 
alternatives for detailed study. The alternatives will consist of a no-
action alternative, as well as a variety of build and no-build 
alternatives that meet the purpose and need for the action. These 
alternatives will be developed, screened, and subjected to detailed 
analysis in the draft EIS based on their ability to address the purpose 
and need, while attempting to avoid known and sensitive resources.
    Letters describing the proposed NEPA study and soliciting input 
will be sent to the appropriate federal, state and local agencies, 
which have expressed or are known to have an interest or legal role in 
this proposal. It is anticipated that a formal scoping meeting will be 
held as part of the NEPA process to facilitate local, state, and 
federal agency involvement. Private organizations, citizens, and 
interest groups will also have an opportunity to provide input into the 
development of the EIS and identify issues that should be addressed at 
the public scoping meetings. A comprehensive public participation 
program will be developed to involve the public throughout the project 
development process. This will include pubic meetings at key stages 
during the process, including the review of the draft EIS. The draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
the public meetings/hearings. Its availability will be announced by 
Federal Register notice, regional and local media, Web site, and direct 
mailing to all those on the formal mailing list developed during the 
NEPA/Public Involvement Process. At this time, the draft North Shore 
Road EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in late 2004.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are identified and taken into account, comments and suggestions 
are invited from all interested parties. Comments and questions 
concerning this notice of proposed action, and when the draft 
environmental impact statement is available, should be directed to the 
NPS at the addresses provided under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    The public is advised that individual names and addresses may be 
included as part of the public record. Names and addresses will be 
available for public review during regular business hours. There are 
circumstances in which a person prefers to have their name and other 
information withheld from the public record. Any person wishing to do 
this must state this prominently at the beginning of any correspondence 
or comment, and the request will be honored to the extent allowable by 
law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be placed on the public record and 
will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: December 13, 2002.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Acting Regional Director, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10024 Filed 4-23-03; 8:45 am]
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