[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 19099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7146]



[[Page 19099]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the North Shore 
Road Environmental Impact Statement, Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park

AGENCY: National Park Service.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) and National Park Service (NPS) policy in Director's 
Order 12 (Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and 
Decision Making), the NPS in cooperation with the Federal Highway 
Administration announces the availability of the Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Park), North Carolina. The ROD 
was approved by the Southeast Regional Director on December 28, 2007. 
The NPS has selected the preferred alternative (Monetary Settlement 
Alternative) as described in the Final EIS to ensure that resources of 
the Park and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Trail) will be 
unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations, and fulfill project 
goals and objectives including the protection of natural, cultural, and 
recreational resources.
    The selected alternative and four other alternatives, including a 
No-Action Alternative, were analyzed in the Draft and Final EIS. The 
full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed. The 
NPS believes the Monetary Settlement Alternative will best accomplish 
the goals of the Park and the Trail. NPS selected the Monetary 
Settlement because it protects the significant and diverse natural 
resources and ecosystems of the Park (forest communities, water 
resources, protected species, and soundscapes). It will avoid 
disturbance to the Park and allow the Park to protect resources from 
adverse effects of problematic geologic formations and acidic runoff. 
The Monetary Settlement will also protect the tangible (archaeological 
sites, historic structures, landscapes, cemeteries, and traditional 
cultural properties) and intangible (feelings of attachment, family 
life, myth, folklore, and ideology) aspects of cultural resources in 
the Park. The Monetary Settlement Alternative is consistent with NPS 
management of the Park within the study area as backcountry. The 
Monetary Settlement Alternative allows for the traditional recreational 
activities of hiking, camping, fishing, and horse use in this 
backcountry area of the Park. It maintains the existing balance of 
visitors and resource use in this backcountry area and preserves the 
associated peace and solitude currently available there.
    The ROD includes a statement of the decision made, other 
alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a finding of no 
impairment of Park resources and values, and an overview of public 
involvement in the decision-making process. This decision is the result 
of a public planning process that began in 2003. The official 
responsible for this decision is the NPS Regional Director, Southeast 
Region.

DATES: The ROD was approved by the Southeast Regional Director on 
December 28, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The ROD, Final EIS, Draft EIS, and other information are 
available for review or download on the Internet at http://www.northshoreroad.info.
    Copies of the ROD will also be available for review at the 
following locations:
    Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville, North Carolina 
28801; Marianna Black Library, 33 Fryemont Road, Bryson City, North 
Carolina 28713; Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Main Library, 310 
North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202; Qualla Boundary 
Public Library, 810 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, North Carolina 28719; Anna 
Porter Public Library, 207 Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 
37738; GSMNP Headquarters, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, 
Tennessee 37738; Lawson-McGee Library, 500 West Church Avenue, 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37915; Cameron Village Regional Library, 410-200 
Oberlin Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605; Graham County Public 
Library, 80 Knight Street, Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority for publishing this notice is 
42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C).
    The responsible official for this EIS is Paul Anderson, Acting 
Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama 
Street, SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: February 8, 2008.
Paul R. Anderson,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E8-7146 Filed 4-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-8A-M