NPS extends comment period on proposed Cherokee land exchange

By Rose Hooper

The deadline for public comment has been extended for 30 days, according to Jerry Belson, the National Park Services's southeast regional director. The original deadline was today (Thursday), it has been extended to March 30.

Belson said he granted the extension at the request of environmental groups and other interested citizens following public scoping meetings on the proposal held in Cherokee, Asheville and Knoxville, Tenn.

"Several people attending the public meetings asked for time to review environmental and archeological studies on the two tracts of land being considered for exchange," Belson said.

Extending the deadline, however, should not slow down the NPS in preparing its environmental impact statement. The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to conduct an EIS for major federal actions that could have significant impacts on the environment.

The tribe proposes to acquire the 168-acre Ravensford tract near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a site for a new public school complex to serve the reservation. That tract would also connect two areas of the reservation now split by park land.

In exchange, the tribe would purchase a 218-acre tract near Waterrock Knob in Jackson County, owned by Jay and Deborah Schenck of Rockledge, Fla., and give it to the NPS to be added to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Originally, the draft EIS was expected to be completed by August, and that target date remains the same, said NPS officials. In late August and September, public meeting on the draft EIS will be held, with the final EIS still expected this December.

Meanwhile, results of several just-completed studies on both tracts identified for possible exchange are posted at npslandexchange.com. Additional studies will be added to the website as they are completed.

Copies of the studies soon will be available in Cherokee, Asheville, Knoxville and Gatlinburg at locations yet to be announced.

"At this point in the process, known as the scoping phase, we're simply asking for public comment on major issues and alternatives we need to consider in preparing a draft environmental statement," Belson said. "We will have additional public meetings and an additional comment period after the draft environmental impact statement is completed in August."

Under law, the NPS director has authority to exchange land within a nationa park for privately owned lands that lie within the same state as lands being deleted from NPS ownership. The tracts added and deleted to the park system must be of equal value, or may be equalized by a cash payment.

Written comments on the scoping phase of the project may be sent by mail to Anita Jackson, NPS, Southeast Region, 100 Alabama St. SW, Atlanta, GA., 30303; e-mail to npslandexchange@saic.com; or by toll-free fax to 1-888-820-3643. Those who already commented at the public scoping meetings may submit additional written comments.

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