Table of Contents

Volume I
Acronymns
Summary
1. Introduction
1.1 Project Purpose and Need: the 1943 Agreement
1.2 Project Goals and Objectives
1.2.1 Goals
122 Objectives
1.3 Cooperating Agencies
1.4 Project History and Background
1.4.1 Legislative History
1.4.2 Project History
1.5 Project Setting
1.6 System Linkage
1.6.1 Road Networks
1.6.2 Railroads
1.6.3 Airports
1.6.4 Bicycles and Pedestrians
1.7 Study Issues
2. Description of Alternatives
2.1 Development of Preliminary Study Alternatives
2.1.1 Screening Criteria
2.12 Roadway Design Criteria
2.1.3 Initial Options Considered
2.1.4 Initial Partial-Build and Build Concepts Considered
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2.2 Description of Preliminary Study Alternatives
2.2.1 No-Action
2.22 Monetary Settlement
2.2.3 Partial-Build Corridors
2.2.4 Build Corridors
2.2.5 Potential for Major Bridges
2.3 Framework for Decision-making: Summary of Potential Impacts
2.3.1 Comparison Matrix
2.3.2 Alternatives Eliminated from Further Study
2.3.3 Alternatives Initially Suggested for Detailed Study in the DEIS
2.4 Alternatives Refinement
2.4.1 Two Road Types Recommended for Detailed Study
2.42 Elimination of the Cable Cove Bridge Corridor
2.4.3 Addition of the Proctor Option (Modified Version of the Flint Gap
Corridor and part of the Baseline Northern Shore Corridor)
2.4.4 Addition of the Forney Creek Crossing Option
2.5 Detailed Study Alternatives
2.5.1 No-Action
2.52 Monetary Settlement
2.5.3 Laurel Branch Picnic Area
2.5.4 Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell
2.5.5 Northern Shore Corridor
2.5.6 Options to the Baseline Corridors
2.6 Consistency with Sections 101(b) and 102(1) of NEPA
2.6.1 No-Action
2.6.2 Monetary Settlement
2.6.3 Laurel Branch Picnic Area
2.6.4 Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell
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2.6.5 Northern Shore Corridor
2.7 Environmentally Preferred Alternative
2.8 Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative
2.9 Preferred Alternative
2.10 Cost
2.10.1 Capital Costs/Funding
2.102 Operations and Maintenance Costs
2.11 Comparison of Alternatives
3. Affected Environment
3.1 Existing Roadway and Traffic Conditions
3.1.1 Roadway and Traffic Conditions
3.1.2 Roadway Capacity
3.1.3 Accident Analysis
3.2 Existing Human Environment
3.2.1 Socioeconomic and Community Features
3.22 Land Use (Existing and Future)
32.3 Utilities
32.4 Cultural Resources
32.5 Parkland, National Forest, and Recreational Facilities
3.3 Existing Physical Environment
3.3.1 Topography, Geology, and Soils
3.3.2 Floodplains
3.3.3 Hazardous Materials and Underground Storage Tanks
3.3.4 Air Quality
3.3.5 Soundscapes
3.4 Existing Natural Environment
3.4.1 Wetlands
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3.4.2 Lakes, Rivers, and Streams
3.4.3 Water Quality
3.4.4 Aquatic Ecology
3.4.5 Vegetation Communities
3.4.6 Terrestrial Wildlife
3.4.7 Black Bears
3.4.8 Migratory Birds
3.4.9 Invasive Exotics
3.4.10 Protected Species
3.5 Aesthetics and Visual Resources
3.5.1 Summary of Existing Conditions
4. Environmental Consequences
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 Impact Methods/Thresholds
4.1.2 Cumulative Impacts
4.1.3 Impairment (as defined by NPS policy)
4.2 Impacts to the Human Environment
4.2.1 Traffic, Mobility, and Access
422 Community
4.2.3 Economics
4.2.4 Land Use
42.5 Visitor Use and Experience
4.2.6 Environmental Justice and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
42.7 Utilities
4.2.8 Cultural Resources
4.2.9 Public Health and Safety
4.3 Impacts to the Physical Environment
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4.4
4.5
4.6
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4.3.1 Topography, Geology, and Soils
4.32 Floodplains and Floodways
4.3.3 Hazardous Materials and Underground Storage Tanks
4.3.4 Air Quality
4.3.5 Soundscapes
Impacts to the Natural Environment
4.4.1 Wetlands
4.42 Lakes, Rivers, and Streams
4.4.3 Water Quality
4.4.4 Aquatic Ecology
4.4.5 Vegetation Communities
4.4.6 Terrestrial Wildlife
4.4.7 Black Bears
4.4.8 Migratory Birds
4.4.9 Invasive Exotics
4.4.10 Protected Species
Impacts to Aesthetics and Visual Resources
4.5.1 Methodology for Assessing Impacts to Aesthetics and Visual
Resources
4.52 Summary of Impacts to Aesthetics and Visual Resources
4.5.3 Views Created by Alternatives
4.5.4 Options to Address Potential Impacts
4.5.5 Impairment Evaluation
Energy Impacts
4.6.1 Continuing Energy Consumption
4.6.2 Construction Fuel Consumption
4.6.3 Cumulative Impacts
Private In-Holdings
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4.7.1 Summary of Impacts to Private In-Holdings 4-264
4.8 Collective Impacts, Sustainability, and Long-Term Management 4-264
4.8.1 Local Short-Term Uses of Environment and Long-Term Productivity 4-264
4.8.2 Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitment of Resources 4-266
4.8.3 Adverse Impacts that Could Not Be Avoided 4-267
4.9 Impairment Evaluation Summary 4-268
4.9.1 Background 4-268
4.92 Conclusions 4-269
5. Agency Consultation and Coordination
5.1 Interagency Meeting No. 1: Scoping (March 12, 2003)
5.2 Notice of Intent (April 24, 2003)
5.3 Interagency Meeting No. 2: Existing Conditions (September 10, 2003)
5.4 Interagency Meeting No. 3: Alternatives Development (March 24 and April
22, 2004)
5.5 Section 106 Consulting Parties Meeting No. 1(August 4, 2004)
5.6 Natural Resources Agency Field Meeting (October 19, 2004)
5.7 Section 106 Consulting Parties Meeting No. 2(February 8, 2005)
5.8 Interagency Meeting No. 4: Impact Analysis (February 23, 2005)
5.9 Endangered Species Act Coordination
5.10 Consultation Regarding the Clean Air Act
5.11 Continued Section 106 Consultation and Coordination
5.12 Coordination between the Signatories of the 1943 Agreement
5.13 Other Coordination
5.14 Notice of Availabiliry
5.15 Agency Comments and Responses on the DEIS
5.15.1 Agency Comments on the DEIS
5.15.2 Study Team Responses
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5.16 List of Preparers
5.17 List of Reviewers
5.18 List of DEIS Recipients
5.19 List of FEIS Recipients
6. Public Involvement
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Media Strategies
6.2.1 Mailing List
622 Newsletters
6.2.3 Website
6.2.4 Other pocument Locations
62.5 Press Release and Public Announcements
6.2.6 Social Advertisement
6.3 Enhanced Outreach
6.4 Public Participation Opportunities
6.4.1 Project Timeframe
6.4.2 Public Meetings
6.5 Public Comments
6.5.1 Master Comment Summary Database (MCSD)
6.5.2 Public Comment Summaries
6.5.3 Thank You Response
6.5.4 Public Comments on the DEIS
7. References, Acronyms, Glossary, and Key Word Index
7.1 References
7.2 List of Acronyms
7.3 Glossary
7.4 Key Word Index
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Tables
2-1 Roadway Design Criteria Guidance
2-2 Length of New Roadway
2-3 Capital Costs and/or Funding Amount
2-4 Total Additional Annual GSMNP Operations and Maintenance Costs
Associated with Construction
2-5 Increases to GSMNP Operations and Maintenance Costs
Post-Construction
2-6 Comparison of Alternatives and Impacts
3-1 Archaeological Sites and Isolated Finds in North Shore Road EIS Study
Corridors
3-2 Traditional Cultural Properties In and Adjacent to the Study Corridors
3-3 National and North Carolina Ambient Air Quality Standards
3-4 Typical Human Hearing Levels
3-5 Approximate Area by USFWS Classification of All Wetlands within the
Project Study Corridors
3-6 Approximate Area by TNC Vegetation Classification of All Wetlands within
the Project Study Corridors
3-7 Summary of Stream Flow Classifications within the Project Study Corridors
3-8 Targeted Aquatic Species List
3-9 Detailed Vegetation Communities and Their Global Ranking
3-10 Targeted Terrestrial Species List
3-11 Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species and Their State
Status Evaluated for Potential Occurrence within the Project Study
Corridors
3-12 Federal Species of Concern and State Protected Species Found within the
Project Study Corridors
4-1 2025 Traffic Volumes
4-2 Monthly Traffic Volume Percentages
4-3 Vehicle Classification Assumptions
4-4 Intersection Level of Service - Unsignalized (2025)
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4-5 Intersection Level of Service - Signalized (2025)
4-6 Level of Service - 2025
4-7 Level of Service for an Alternative's New Roadway - 2025
4-8 Projected Annual Recreation Visitor Use, Total and Net New for the
Partial-Build and Build Alternatives
4-9 Impact of the Southern Options on Annual Jobs During Construction
4-10 Annual Long-Term Increases in Personal Income and Net Retail Sales
4-11 Lengths of GSMNP Trail Eliminated or Rerouted
4-12 Cultural Resources Threshold Definitions
4-13 Construction Phase Emissions within 1,000 feet (300 m) of the
Partial-Build and Build Alternatives
4-14 Operational Emissions of the Partial-Build and Build Alternatives
4-15 FHWA Noise Abatement Criteria
4-16 Year 2025 Average Traffic Noise Contours
4-17a Direct and Indirect Jurisdictional Wetland Impacts within the Proposed
Partial-Build and Build Alternatives
4-17b Direct and Indirect Special Aquatic Habitat Impacts within the Proposed
Partial-Build and Build Alternatives
4-18 Direct Stream Impacts within the Proposed Partial-Build and Build
Alternatives
4-19 NCDWQ Water Quality Standards per Use Classification
4-20 Water Quality Impacts - Quantity and Usage Classification of Streams
within the Partial-Build and Build Alternatives
4-21 Direct Impacts to Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Within the Construction
Footprint for Each Partial-Build and Build Alternative
4-22 Invasive Exotic Impact Indicator - Length of New Roadway
4-23 Partial-Build and Build Alternatives 2025 Future Traffic Volumes
4-24 Energy Consumption
5-1 List of Preparers
5-2 List of Reviewers
5-3 List of DEIS Recipients
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5-4 List of FEIS Recipients
6-1 Initial Project Mailing List
6-2 Current Project Mailing List
6-3 Public Workshop Information
6-4 Comment Numbers per EIS Planning Phase
6-5 Number of Comments Received on the DEIS
6-6 Comments Received on the DEIS by Type
6-7 DEIS Review Comment Topics
Charts
4-1 Annual Jobs During Project Construction
4-2 Long-Terms Jobs After Project Construction
Volume II
Figures
1-1 General Vicinity Map
2-1 Photographic Examples of Road Types
2-2 Principal Park Road Typical Section
2-3 Special Purpose Park Road Typical Section
2-4 Primitive Park Road/Administrative Access Road Typical Section
2-5 Initial Concepts Considered
2-6 Preliminary Study Alternatives
2-7 Alternatives Initially Suggested for Detailed Study in the DEIS
2-8 Detailed Study Alternatives
2-9 Laurel Branch Picnic Area Conceptual Plan
2-10 Laurel Branch Picnic Area Example Structures
2-11 Bushnell Area Conceptual Plan
2-12 Bushnell Area Example Structures
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3-1 Census Boundaries
3-2 GMP Proposed Management Zoning
3-3 Floodplains
3-4 Ambient Sound Levels
3-5 Streams and Wetlands
3-6 Vegetation Communities
3-7 Viewpoints for Detailed Analysis
4-1 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Peak Hour Volumes
A.M./P.M. Year 2025 (No-Action)
4-2 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Peak Hour Volumes
A.M./P.M. Year 2025 (Laurel Branch)
4-3 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Peak Hour Volumes
A.M./P.M. Year 2025 (Bushnell — Primitive)
4-4 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Peak Hour Volumes
A.M./P.M. Year 2025 (Bushnell — Principal)
4-5 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Peak Hour Volumes
A.M./P.M. Year 2025 (Northern Shore Corridor — Primitive)
4-6 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Peak Hour Volumes
A.M./P.M. Year 2025 (Northern Shore Corridor — Principal)
4-7 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Level of Service Year
2025 (No-Action)
4-8 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Level of Service Year
2025 (Laurel Branch)
4-9 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Level of Service Year
2025 (Bushnell — Primitive)
4-10 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Level of Service Year
2025 (Bushnell — Principal)
4-11 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Level of Service Year
2025 (Northern Shore Corridor — Primitive)
4-12 Traffic Data and Capacity Analysis Intersection, Level of Service Year
2025 (Northern Shore Corridor — Principal)
4-13 Backcountry Campsite and Trail Elimination
4-14 Private In-Holdings
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Errata and Addenda to Appendices
A 1943 Agreement
D Local Government Resolutions and Correspondence
H Programmatic Agreement Among the National Park Service, Federal
Highway Administration, and the North Carolina State Historic
Preservation Officer for the North Shore Road Project
I Topography, Geology, and Soils Technical Report
J Public Involvement Comment Summary
L Cherohala Skyway: An Evaluation of Construction Techniques, Water
Quality, and Similarities with the North Shore Road Project
M Water Resources Technical Report
N Terrestrial Resources Technical Report
P Agency Consultation and Coordination Letters
Q Great Smoky Mountains National Park Enabling Legislation
R Independent Review of Cost Estimate for the North Shore Road Project
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