[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 361-362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-33]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the North Shore Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Summary: In accordance with Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), and the 
President's Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1500-1508), as 
implemented by Director's Order 12, the National Park Service (NPS) in 
coordination with the Federal Highway Administration has prepared a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to analyze alternatives for 
resolving issues related to the North Shore Road in the Great Smoky 
Mountains National Park (GSMNP). With the approval of the Department of 
Interior, the NPS is presenting the alternatives in the DEIS without 
identifying a preferred alternative. The NPS is seeking public comment 
on the alternatives before selecting a preferred alternative. This 
notice announces the availability of the DEIS and the locations of 
public hearings for the purpose of receiving comments on the draft 
document.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to discharge and satisfy any 
obligations on the part of the United States that presently exist as 
the result of the July 30, 1943, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among 
the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Tennessee Valley Authority, 
Swain County, North Carolina, and the State of North Carolina. The need 
of the project is to determine whether or not it is feasible to 
complete the road and to evaluate other alternative that would satisfy 
the obligation.
    The DEIS analyzes one no-action alternative and four action 
alternatives for meeting the purpose and need of the project. The no-
action alternative would continue current management practices and 
policies into the future. One of the action alternatives would provide 
Swain County with a monetary settlement to satisfy and discharge the 
obligations of the MOA. Each of the other three action alternatives 
would allow various levels of development and/or road construction 
within the project study area of GSMNP.
    Under the Laurel Branch Picnic Area alternative a day-use area on 
the north side of existing Lake View Road would be constructed. Outdoor 
facilities would include a multi-use picnic shelter, picnic tables, 
several loop trails, drinking fountains, and restrooms. Under the 
Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell, up to 8 miles (12.9 km) of new 
roadway from the existing tunnel west to the vicinity of the former 
Bushnell settlement would be constructed. The alternative would provide 
a boat-launching ramp and restricted boat dock. Located near the 
terminus of the new roadway would be a multi-use picnic shelter and 
picnic tables, a backcountry permit station, an information kiosk, 
restrooms, and a parking area. Exhibit/museum space would be designed 
to highlight local heritage of the area and may include concession 
opportunities. Under the Northern Shore Corridor Alternative, 29 to 
34.3 miles of new roadway to the vicinity of Fontana Dam would be 
constructed. It would connect Lake View Road to NC 28. This alternative 
would include provisions for the development of an auto-tour guide 
describing the historic and natural points of interest along the route. 
Also, restrooms would be built at appropriate locations.
    Dates: The DEIS will be available for public review and comments 
submitted until March 20, 2006. Public hearings will be held on 
February 2, 6, 7, 9, and 13, 2006. Hearings will be conducted from 4 
p.m. to 8 p.m. or later as needed to hear all comments. Representatives 
of the NPS will be available at the public hearings to receive 
comments, concerns, and other input from the public related to the 
DEIS.
    Specific information about the public hearings is as follows: 
February 2, 2006, 4:30-8 p.m., Swain County High School, Center for the 
Arts, Auditorium, 1415 Fontana Road, Bryson City, NC; February 6, 2006, 
4:30-8 p.m., Robbinsville High School Auditorium, 301 Sweetwater Road, 
Robbinsville, NC; February 7, 2006, 4:30-8 p.m., Asheville Renaissance 
Hotel, One Thomas Wolfe Plaza, Asheville, NC; February 9, 2006, 4:30-8 
p.m., Knoxville Marriott, 500 Hill Avenue, SE., Knoxville, TN; February 
13, 2006, 4:30-8 p.m., Gatlinburg-Pittman High School Auditorium, 150 
Proffitt Road, Gatlinburg, TN.
    Addresses: The complete DEIS and associated appendices are 
available for review or download on the Internet at http://www.northshoreroad.info.

[[Page 362]]

    Copies of the DEIS will also be available for review at the 
following locations: Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, 
Asheville, NC 28801; Marianna Black Library, 33 Fryemont Road, Bryson 
City, NC 28713; Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Main Library, 310 
North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202; Qualla Boundary Public 
Library, 810 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719; Anna Porter Public 
Library, 207 Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; GSMNP 
Headquarters, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; Lawson-
McGee Library, 500 West Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915; Cameron 
Village Regional Library, 410-200 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27605; 
Graham County Public Library, 80 Knight Street, Robbinsville, NC 28771.
    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 DOI, the State of North Carolina, and Swain 
County, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that dealt with 
the creation of Fontana Dam and Reservoir and the flooding of lands and 
road within Swain County. As part of that agreement, 44,170 acres of 
land were ultimately transferred to the DOI and made part of GSMNP. 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, contingent upon funds being 
appropriated by Congress.
    The DEIS evaluates potential environmental consequences, of 
implementing the action alternatives, on GSMNP and the Appalachian 
National Scenic Trail. Impact topics include the human environment, 
physical environment, natural and cultural resources, aesthetics and 
visual resources, visitor use and experience, and park operations. 
Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts along with options to address 
potential impacts were evaluated and are described for each resource 
area.
    The public is advised that it is the practice of the NPS to make 
comments, including individual names and addresses of respondents, 
available for public review during regular business hours. There are 
circumstances in which a person prefers to have his or her 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. Anonymous comments will be included in 
the public record, however, the NPS is not legally required to consider 
or respond to anonymous comments.
    The DEIS is being mailed to appropriate Federal, State and local 
agencies and organizations which have been involved with the project, 
have expressed, or are known to have an interest or legal role in this 
proposal.
    After public review of the DEIS, the National Park Service will 
consider comments, and a Final EIS followed by a Record of Decision 
will be prepared. The Final EIS is scheduled for completion in November 
2006.
    The responsible official for this Environmental Impact Statement is 
Patricia A. Hooks, Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park 
Service, 100 Alabama Street, SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 
30303.

    Dated: November 14, 2005.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 06-33 Filed 1-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-M