North Shore Road (21)

i
.srtm $r"r4?v
• A •
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 - 8960
rAw 1 sk
Mr Dale Ditmanson
Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Attn Ms Imelda Wegwerth
National Park Service
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
U
A?e
WETLANDS/ 401 CROUP
JUN 1 8 2004
SUBJ North Shore Road WATER QUALITY SECTION
EIS Alternatives Concurrence
Swain County, NC
Dear Mr Ditmanson
This letter is in reference to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared for
the North Shore Road project in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in western North
Carolina The alternatives being proposed for impact analysis in the EIS are
• No Action
• Monetary Settlement
• Laurel Branch Picnic Area
• Partial Build to Bushnell and Optionl
• Partial Build to Cable Cove and Option 1
• Northern Shore Corridor and Options 1, 2 and 3
We participated in the meetings in Raleigh (3-24-04) and Asheville (4-22-04)-where the above
alternatives were discussed We concur with the alternatives being carried through the EIS for
further analysis However we do have several comments concerning the process and the
alternatives
At the Asheville meeting, we discussed the use of the merger process with this project
which resulted in your current request for the agencies' concurrence signature for the alternatives
to be carved through the EIS We believe the merger process should be continued throughout
this process with concurrence signatures for the selection of the least environmentally damaging
alternative (LEPDA) and avoidance and minimization
We understand from conversations with the Corps of Engineers they have raised the
question as to whether any alternatives were evaluated which would be similar to the Bushnell
day use area but would be closer to the existing road terminus and would therefore require less
new road We share the Corps concern on this issue and we are also interested as to whether this
has been addressed We recommend this be discussed in the EIS
A final issue which will need to be addressed in the EIS is the non-attainment for the
8-hour ozone standard (Subpart 1 - Basic) for all the Great Smoky Mountain National Park As
you probably know, this is a recent designation and will require any new roadway to meet
transportation and general conformity requirements For specific technical assistance for air
quality issues, the Park Service can contact Karen Borel with EPA's Region 4 Air Programs
Branch at 404-562-9029 or borel karen@epa gov
EPA appreciates the opportunity to be involved with the EIS development for this project
With this letter EPA is officially signing off on the above alternatives to be carried through the
EIS process We are also signing the alternatives concurrence sign off form and will fax that
form to Imelda Wegwerth, as requested If you have any questions regarding these comments,
please contact Becky Fox of my staff at 828-497-3531 or fox rebecca@epa gov

Sincerely, '
Ronald J ulak Chief
Wetland gulatory Section
cc List
cc Mr Scott McLendon, Chief
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
U S Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
Mr Brian P Cole
State Supervisor
US Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Mr John DorneY v/
Wetland/ 401 Unit Supervisor
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Mr Kevin Barnett
Division of Water Quality
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
59 Woodfin Place
Asheville, NC 28801
Mr Dave McHenry
Habitat Conservation Program
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Old Fish Hatchery Road
Waynesville, NC 28789