1.7

1.6.4 Bicycles and Pedestrians
There are no North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)-designated bicycle routes within the
study area. However, due to the scenery and recreational characteristics of the study area in proximity to
the AT, the Mountains to Sea Trail, and tbe Blue Ridge Parkway, cyclists, hikers, and pedestrians are a
common sight along some of the roadways within the study area, especially during the summer months.
More information concerning bilcing and hiking trails within GSMNP and the Nantahala National Forest is
included in Section 3.2.5 of this document. Within Bryson City, sidewalks and roadways serve pedestrian
and bicycle traffic. Outside the ciry limits, all roadways are either two-lane rural highways with minimal
shoulders or four-lane freeways, which are not bicycle or pedestrian friendly. No dedicated bicycle lanes
are within the study area.
1.7 Study Issues
Environmental impact topics were identified by the study team and finalized through input from the public
The impact topics that were identified, and analyzed in Chapter 4, include: community, economic, land use,
visitor use and experience, environmental justice, cultural resources, public health and safety, geology,
floodplains, air quality, soundscapes, wetlands (jurisdictional and special aquatic habitats), streams and
lakes, water qualiry, aquatic ecology, vegetation communities, terrestrial wildlife, black bears, migratory
birds, invasive exotics, federally protected species, and visual resources. Other topics with discussions of
effects in Chapter 4 include utilities, hazardous materials, energy, indirect and cumulative effects, private in-
holdings, and sustainabiliry and long-term management.
Topics that were dismissed from further analysis in this EIS were farmlands, relocation, Section 4(�, and
Section 6(�.
Farmlands are protected under the Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981 (7 CFR Part 658) ("the Act"),
which establishes criteria for identifying and considering the effects of Federal programs on the conversion
of farmland to nonagricultural uses. Tbe project study area does not ineet the Act's definition of farmland.
Therefore, the provisions of the Act do not apply to this project.
None of the detailed study alternatives would directly result in relocation impacts. All partial-build and build
alternatives are located within GSMNP. Furthermore, offsite disposa] of pyritic rock would not require
relocation of any residences ar businesses. Potential property acquisitions due to actions undertaken with the
Monetary Settlement would depend on local use of funds.
Section 4( fl of the Department of Transportation Act of l 966, as amended, stipulates that the FHWA will not
approve any program or project which requires the use of publicly owned park land, recreation area, wildlife
or waterfowl refuge, or land of a significant historic site unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative
and all possible planning to minimize harm resulting from such use is included. However, this provision
does not apply to any project for a park road or parkway under Section 204 Federal Lands Highways
Program, of Title 23, USC. Tbe partial-build and build alternatives would be constructed as park roads
under the Federal Lands Highways Program. Therefore, Section 4( fl does not apply.
Introduction —1-5
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

Section 6(� of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCF) protects grant-assisted areas
from conversions. It requires replacement of any land iinproved with LWCF monies that is converted to
non-recreational purposes. No portions of GSMNP in the study area were funded with LWCF monies.
Therefore, there is no use of Section 6( fl resources.
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Introduction —1-6
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement