4.7

Fuel in gal/hr
Intersection (a.m./p.m.)
Monetary Settlement
Laurel Branch Picnic Area 41/53
Bushnell (Primitive) 43/55
Bushnell (Principal) 44/56
Northern Shore Corridor (Primitive) 41/53
Northern Shore Corridor (Principal) 43/56
Note: * Same Value as 2025 No-Action
The Primitive Park Road would involve more maintenance than the Principal Park Road. The Primitive Parlc
Road would require seasonal grading with motor graders, which ha�e sizable fuel consumptions.
Visitor facilities proposed for the Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell would be designed to meet energy
management and sustainability goals. Facility development would seek to implement the best principles for
architectural design, energy conservation and use of energy efficient materials. These goals are in
accordance with NPS policies which require adherence to all federal policies governing energy and water
efficiency, renewable resources, and use of alternative fuels.
4.6.2 Construction Fuel Consumption
The amount of energy consumed during construction would be considered a short-term impact in relation to
the overall life of the proposed facility. A large number of construction vehicles would be required for
construction of any partial-build or build alternative. The number and rype of construction vehicles and the
length of construction time to complete would vary for each alternative.
4.6.3 Cumulative Impacts
New development projects in the region and economic impacts from the project were taken into account in
developing traffic projections and are reflected in the overall energy impacts for the project. The limited
overall energy impacts projected to result from any of the proposed altematives would be negligible when
added to energy impacts resulting from other area development or road projects.
4.7 Private In-Holdings
Private in-holdings refer to privately owned properties that are either fully or partially located within the
boundaries of Nantahala National Forest, GSMNP, or TVA lands in the study area. Private in-holdings were
inventaried based on data provided by the NPS, the USFS, and the North Carolina Center for Geographic
Information and Analysis (NCCGIA). Figure 4-14 illustrates the location of private in-holdings within the
study area.
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-263
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

There are no private in-holdings in the GSMNP in the vicinity of the project alternatives. There are several
areas of reserved rights, such as burial rights. These rights are addressed by the GSMNP GMP and are
discussed in the Private In-Holdings Section of the ECR, Section 3.16.
Private in-holdings in the project vicinity were identified within the USFS lands, as they have historically
purchased lands on an ad hoc basis depending on funding and availabiliry of land. The majority of the
privately owned lands are southwest of Bryson City, south of Fontana Lake at Walnut Hollow Gap and
Sawyer Creek, and at Fontana Village. Private in-holdings are further described in the Private In-Holdings
Section of the ECR, Section 3.16.
4.7.1 Summary of Impacts to Private In-Holdings
The proposed project lies within the boundaries of GSMNP. No private in-holdings would be directly
impacted by the alternatives.
The baseline Northern Shore Corridor connects directly to NC 28 to the west of Fontana Dam. If the
baseline option were selected, development potential would likely result on privately owned properties on
the south side of NC 28 outside GSMN P. These private in-holdings are within the boundary of the
Nantahala National Forest. These potential impacts are discussed further in Land Use, Section 4.2.4.
Other private in-holdings in the overall project vicinity could also be impacted by development resulting
from the proposed project, especially when combined with current trends in the area. Indirect and
cumulative land use impacts are described in Land Use, Section 4.2.4.
4.8 Collective Impacts, Sustainability, and Long-Term Management
In addition to evaluating the impacts of proposed actions and related cumulative impacts to individual
resources, an EIS must talce a collective and long-term view to consider all impacts to a park's resources
resulting from a proposed action. This evaluation of collective impacts involves consideration of
sustainability and long-term management of Park resources and the ecosystem and the biodiversity values for
which the Park was created, as discussed in the following sections. Discussion of the potential for collective
impacts to impair GSMNP or AT resources is presented in Impairment Evaluation Summary, Section 4.9.
4.8.1 Local Short-Term Uses of Environment and Long-Term Productivity
An EIS must evaluate the impact of alternatives on the relationship between local short-term uses of the
environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity (NPS 2001 a). This involves
considering whether taking the immediate action and the related use of parlc land causes a change to long-
term management and productivity of a park's resources and the enjoyment of these resources by future
generations. As a part of tbis evaluation, the cumulative impact of the proposed action to resources and
ecosystems when combined with other actions must be considered.
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-264
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement