North Shore Road (20)

Q??ENT OF
P ?
A
N O
Horch 3 p?a
IN REPLY REFER Tot
D18
June 18, 2004
United States Department of the Interior
John Hennessy
NC Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
Dear Mr Hennessy
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
NATIONAL
PARK
SERVICE
WETLANDS 1401 GROUP
JUN 1 p 2004
WATER QUALIIYSECTIOht
As you are aware, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Shore Road Project in western North
Carolina At the last interagency meeting, held March 24, 2004 in Raleigh, North Carolina, preliminary
alternatives were presented We have now received comments on these alternatives from various agencies
and from the public Based on the comments that we have received, we have revised the alternatives and are
asking for your concurrence so that we may move forward into impact analysis
We understand that the US Forest Service (USFS) regulations may not permit the North Shore Road to extend
onto USFS property The NPS has been advised to proceed with studying the Partial-Build Alternative at
Cable Cove in the Environmental Impact Statement until documentation is provided for its elimination
The alternatives that are now proposed to go forward into impact analysis are shown on the enclosed map and
are briefly described below
1 No Action - Required by NEPA as a basis for comparing the potential benefits and impacts of the other
alternatives
2 Monetary Settlement - Monetary compensation to Swain County in the amount of $52 million
3 Laurel Branch Picnic Area - Day use area to be constructed prior to reaching the existing tunnel terminus
4 Partial Build Alternative to Bushnell - Approximately 5 miles of new roadway would be constructed,
from existing tunnel to the vicinity of Monteith Branch A day use area would be constructed to offer
various types of visitor services
a Option 1 - Cross Forney Creek Embayment with a large bridge, or go around it into the interior
of the Park to cross the creek with a smaller bridge
TAKE PRIDE®&T,-w.
INAMERICA?,?
5) Partial Build Alternative to Cable Cove - Approximately 22 miles of new roadway (approximately
19 rules of road in Park), from existing tunnel to cross Fontana Lake dust east of Hazel Creek The
road would he directly to Cable Cove Road which connects with NC 28, near Cable Cove
Recreation Area
a Option 1- Cross Forney Creek Embayment with a large bridge, or go around it into the
interior of the Park to cross the creek with a smaller bridge
6) Northern Shore Corridor - Approximately 28 miles of new roadway, from existing tunnel to the
vicinity of Fontana Dam The corridor would generally follow the northern shore of Fontana Lake
and would utilize remaining portions of NC 288 to the extent possible
a Option 1- Cross Forney Creek Embayment with a large bridge, or go around it into the
interior of the Park to cross the creek with a smaller bridge
b Option 2 - Cross Hazel and Eagle Creek embayments at the lake with large bridges or go
around creek embayments into the interior of the Park to cross the creeks with smaller
bridges
c Option 3 - Terminate the road by going across Fontana Dam or bypass the Dam and tie
directly into NC 28, west of the Dam, roughly five miles east of Deals Gap
We are requesting written concurrence and/or any comments your agency may have about these
alternatives by June 18, 2004 You may also wish to indicate your concurrence with the alternatives by
signing the bottom of this page and faxing it to Imelda Wegwerth at 8651436-1712 Your time and
participation on this project are appreciated If you have any questions about these alternatives, feel free
to call the Project Manager, Imelda Wegwerth, at 865/436-1302
Sincerely,
Dale A Ditmanson
Superintendent
cc
To All on Attached Marling List
Concurrence Line:
Agency Name
Signature
Date
Interagency Mailing List
NC State Agencies
Ms Chrys Baggett
State Clearinghouse
1302 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NCC 27699-1302
Dave McHenry
Mountain Region Coordinator
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
20830 Great Smoky Mountain Expressway
Waynesville, NC 28786
Dr Jeffrey Crow
State Historic Preservation Officer
4610 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4610
Renee Gledhill-Early
State Preservation Officer
Environmental Review Coordinator
4610 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4610
John Hennessy
NC Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina
Michell Hicks
Principal Chief
Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians
PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719
Russell Townsend, THPO
Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Qualla Boundary
PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719
Michele Hamilton
Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Qualla Boundary
PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719

US Fish and Wildlife Service
Brian P Cole
Asheville Field Office
US Fish and Wildlife Service, DOI
160 Zillicoa Street, No B
Asheville, NC 28806
Allen Ratzlaff
Field Supervisor
US Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Tennessee Valley Authonty
Jon M Loney, Manager
Environmental Management
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 8C
Knoxville, TN 37902-1499
Harold Draper, NEPA Specialist
Environmental Policy & Planning
Tennessee Valley Authority
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT-8C
Knoxville, TN 37902
US Arm CoMs of Engineers
Ken Jolly
Regulatory Branch
US Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District
PO Box 1890
Wilmington, NC 28402-1890
Scott McLendon
U S Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28803
Dave Baker
U S Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28803
n v
US Environmental Protection Agency
Rebecca Fox
US Environmental Protection Agency
1349 Firefly Road
Whittier, NC 28789
a
l
j •~ _ _.
C ro m O ?o n 7 m f Oz
.i,
-cL
s ?•, Y
v,
i•

c
v O
A d'
a ro'
w o
ro
Z
T U
? G
o`
0
ag
0
O .,y
r
o
1 T
T
O r
vD
Z m r
D
A
m
° D
T
F z
D p D
= O
Z A V .
M
03 C
, ? A Z V .
;3 o??rn
O
z E
pm
m v
v
m
C
CD
Ile-
rr
.01
}
, A •
r
r
rn a fr ?,r m
-4, 1
cv,
t_ M O
- - om D C
a rn
'o .
=v
• o Z
17
1 - m

,r •
rte, ? H
DD _.rri. i '!` O O in
Z `\ ` 1 D /r _ G lD cg
m cn
Q-
?, a
CD I
Z) CD
n C
Sk)
` •.F D ?p O l!?
m Q
\ ?Js„ Q
s w (D
i D '+wa m 3
A
rn
g =r N
lk