6.2

6. Public Involvement
6.1 Introduction
The North Shore Road Project has over a 60-year history related to the construction of the Fontana Dam in
western North Carolina. For decades prior to the onset of the EIS and official start of the public involvement
program, the public and media have commented on issues surrounding the North Shore Road and the land
that is now included in the EIS study area. This has included petitions and letters written to the NPS and
other government agencies. As demonstrated through previous and current public participation, there is a
strong interest in this project among numerous people with various viewpoints, both locally and nationwide.
Public involvement is an essential component of the EIS, supporting the informed decision-making process.
It is integral in selecting appropriate study alternatives, analyzing potential impacts, and fulfilling NEPA
requirements. In accordance witb NEPA, the NPS and the FHWA developed an extensive public
involvement program for the North Shore Road EIS to keep the public informed and to collect public input
for the duration of the project.
The North Shore Road Public Involvement Program has been open and inclusive. Key public involvement
points have included the following:
■ The proposed North Shore Road has been a divisive factor for too long and needs resolution.
■ The public decision-making process associated with NEPA has provided a framewark to evaluate all
reasonable alternatives for resolving the government's obligation in the 1943 Agreement.
■ The program has been committed to keeping the public and interested parties as informed as possible
throughout the process.
■ Flexible, open, and continuous public involvement has been conducted in accordance with NEPA and
NPS policies.
The North Shore Road Public Involvement Program has included a variety of inedia to inform the public on
the status of the EIS planning process and to solicit and incorporate public feedbacic. It has included
numerous public meetings at multiple locations, social advertisements in local newspapers, national press
releases, a comprehensive mailing list far project newsletters, and an interactive project website.
This chapter provides a summation of the public involvement activities that have occurred during the North
Shore Road Public Involvement Program.
Refer to Impacts to the Human Environment, Section 4.2, (specifically in Community, Section 4.2.2; Visitor
Use and Experience, Section 4.2.5; and Cultural Resources, Section 4.2.8), for more information regarding
iinpacis to the publics associated with this project.
6.2 Media Strategies
A variety of inedia strategies were developed to update the public on the status of the EIS planning process
and to collect public input. The wide range of local and national interest required disseminating information
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North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

to a larger audience through mass media. The following details the media used to inform the public and solicit
public input.
6.2.1 Mailing List
The project mailing list was initially developed with the NPS by compiling all known key project contacts,
including people who previously had expressed interest in tbe project; local interest groups; conservation
groups; resource and regulatory agencies; other federal, state, and local government representatives; and
tourism associations. The federal, state, and local governments included: ciry/county officials from Swain
and Graham counties; other North Carolina and Tennessee local government board members and
commissioners; federal government elected officials; and state government elected officials. The initial
project mailing list breakdown is shown in Table 6-1.
Table 6-1. Initial Project Mailing List
Project Interest Group Number of Individuals
Public
Conservation Interest Groups
Resource & Regulatory Agencies
Other Federal, State, & Local Government
Tourism
Total
830
59
47
61
11
1,008
As of May 2007, the project mailing list included 86,700 individuals (Table 6-2). The people that were added
since the initial listing are individuals who signed in at one of the public meetings, provided comments, or
requested addition to the mailing list by phone, �mail, writing, or direct contact.
Table 6-2. Current Project Mailing List (May 2007)
Project Interest Group Number of Individuals
Public
Interest Groups and Organizations
Resource & Regulatory Agencies
Federal, State, & Local Governments
Tourism
lu -L�7F7
f►l�y
Total
86,312 �
67
66
230
9
7
�'7
86,700
Note: � Individuals that submitted both hard copy and electronic correspondence may be included twice
within the "public" interest group. Potential duplications account for less than an estimated 1
percent of the total number of individuals.
In Table 6-2, "public" includes individuals listed on both the physical and e-mail mailing lists.
Approximately 75,470 addresses are on the project's �mail list. The total number on the list includes those
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North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

that prefer both methods of mailing (hard copy and electronic), those who prefer only electronic
correspondence, contacts who submitted comments via �mail, and those that checked the e-mail preference
on their hard copy comment sheets.
Mailing list contacts receive project newsletters and other pertinent distributions throughout the duration of
the project. The mailing ]ists have been updated weekly, based on comments, �mails, and information
forwarded from the NPS and the FHWA.
6.2.2 Newsletters
Project newsletters were sent to recipients on both mailing lists at major project milestones. Each newsletter
contained infarmation relating to that phase of the project, a project location map, and contact information.
During the EIS planning process, six issues of the project newsletter were distributed. One additional
newsletter announcing the publication of the ROD will be distributed.
The first project newsletter was sent in February 2003. It introduced the project, discussed the EIS process,
invited the public to attend the scoping meetings, and requested commenis. The issue included a summary of
the project's bistory; draft purpose and need statement concept alternatives from the past; past agency and
public positions; and the proposed study area.
The second project newsletter was sent in July 2003. The newsletter included an overview of the project; a
review of public involvement activities; information on the existing conditions; a map of the project study
area; an invitation to the second series of public warlcshops; and a solicitation of comments.
The third project newsletter was distributed in January 2004. It provided a project overview; discussed the
preliminary alternatives and screening criteria; requested participation at the public workshops; and
encouraged public input.
The fourth project newsletter updated the public on the alternatives recommended to move forward far
detailed study in the DEIS. It was distributed in September 2004.
A fifth newsletter, whicb announced the public workshops for the Impact Analysis Phase, was ruailed in
January 2005.
The sixth project newsletter was mailed in December 2005. It announced the release of the DEIS, invited the
public to attend the public hearings, and provided updated cost information. The newsletter also encouraged
the public to submit comments on the DEIS.
For those people on the project's �mail list, an �mail notice was sent to all contacts with a link to the
newsletter on the project website.
6.2.3 Website
A website (wwwNorthShoreRoad.info) was developed to provide information to ihe public concerning
project history, the status of the EIS planning process, and current project details. Through an e-mail link
(wwwNorthShoreRoad.info/comments.htm), the interactive website has also been used to collect public
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North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

comments and requests to be added to, or deleted from, the project mailing list. The website has been
updated as major milestones have been met, and covered information from the public meeting handouts. It
also has included public involvement notices; a project location map; archived project newsletters; archived
public meeting handouts, reports; and links to GSMNP, NPS, and FHWA websites. After comments were
summarized from each meeting series, comment summaries were posted to the website far public review.
6.2.4 Other pocument Locations
Reports posted online were also available far viewing at ]oca] libraries and NPS visitor centers. Viewing
locations included the following: Asheville, North Carolina, Pack Me�norial Library; Bryson City, North
Carolina, Marianna Black Library; Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte Mecklenburg County Main Library;
Cherokee, North Carolina, NPS Oconaluftee Visitor Center; Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Anna Porter Public
Library and NPS Sugarlands Visitor Center; Knoxville, Tennessee, Lawson-McGee Library; Maryville,
Tennessee, Blount County Public Library; Raleigh, North Carolina, Cameron Village Regional Library;
Robbinsville, North Carolina, Graham County Public Library; and Waynesville, North Carolina, Haywood
County Public Library.
6.2.5 Press Release and Public Announcements
Information concerning the project and the public meetings was provided to the following newspapers
through press releases: The Sinoky Mountain Times, Bryson City, North Carolina; The Cherokee One
Feather, Cherokee, North Carolina; The Mountaineer, Waynesville, North Carolina; The Sylva Herald,
Sylva, North Carolina; Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, North Carolina; The Smoky Mountain News,
Waynesville, North Carolina; The Mountain Press, Sevierville, Tennessee; The Knoxville News-Sentinel,
Knoxville, Tennessee; The Daily Times, Maryville, Tennessee; and other major newspapers in Alabama,
Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and
Tennessee.
Announcements were also placed on the following websites: www.nps.gov\grsm, www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov, and
www.NorthShoreRoad.info. All interested individuals, arganizations, and agencies were invited to attend
meetings and comment arally and/or provide written comments or suggestions for each phase of the project,
the planning process, and the public involvement efforts.
6.2.6 Social Advertisement
Information regarding the public meetings was also provided to the following local newspapers through a
social advertisement: The Smoky Mountain Times, Bryson City, North Carolina; The Cherokee One Feather,
Cherokee, North Carolina, The Sylva Herald, Sylva, North Carolina; The Mountaineer, Waynesville, North
Carolina; Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, North Carolina; The Smoky Mountain News, Waynesville, North
Carolina; The Mountain Press, Sevierville, Tennessee; The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee;
The Daily Times, Maryville, Tennessee; and The Graham Star Robbinsville, Nortb Carolina. Due to an
increase in public interest in central North Carolina, social advertisements were also included in The
Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina; and The News and Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina, after
the first series of public meetings.
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North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement