NPS releases impact report, could be impacted by Taylor's bill

By Rose Hooper

The environmental impact report, released Monday by the National Park Service, could be impacted by congressional action taking place at press time Wednesday, June 18.

U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor introduced a bill that would force the land exchange. If it clears committee Wednesday, the bill could be brought before the House and Senate and, if approved, the bill would take precedent over any NPS decision.

So far, no NPS decision or recommendation has been made, according to John Yancy, associate regional director for science and natural resources for the Park Service's Southeast Region.

Meanwhile, the NPS is proceeding with public meetings next month to gather opinions on the draft statement, which examines three alternatives being considered:

- No action.

- Exchanging 168 acres of Park Service land at the Ravensford site at Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a 218-acre parcel known as Waterrock Knob, which would become part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

- Exchanging a smaller parcel at the Ravensford site (143 acres) for the 218-acre Waterrock Knob property. Under this option, the Park Service would retain 25 acres at Ravensford to protect the most important natural and cultural resources associated with the site.

The proposed land exchange was suggested by the Eastern Band of Cherokee as a way to secure land to build new schools for the tribe.

Existing school buildings, constructed by the Department of the Interior several decades ago, are aging, overcrowded and inadequate to meet both the current and future educational needs, tribal officials contend.

Trailer-type classrooms have been added over the years but enrollment still exceeds capacity. The location of the elementary school at the major intersection of U.S. 441 and U.S. 19 in downtown Cherokee has been cited as a safety issue for the students.

Principal Chief Leon Jones, who calls the present reservation schools "antiquated, overcrowded and dangerously-located," is a proponent of consolidating the elementary school and the middle school/high school on Acquoni Road at Ravensford.

"A school campus located in the heart of the Qualla Boundary will be a focal point for them to explore our culture, history and natural heritage," Jones said.

Additionally, the EBCI would like to connect two areas of the reservation now bisected by park land. The Qualla Boundary is currently divided by the Parkway and the Ravensford site, physically separating the portion of the Qualla Boundary encompassing the Big Cove community from the rest of Qualla Boundary.

In exchange for the Ravensford site, also known as Floyd Bottoms, the tribe would purchase and donate the Waterrock Knob site to the NPS. The site is bordered by the Parkway on the northeast and the east, the Nature Conservancy's Yellow Face Mountain tract on the southeast and private land on the southwest, west and northeast.

Located in Jackson County, the Waterrock Knob site is largely forested and currently undeveloped. The study found a diversity of plant communities, including spruce fir forest, northern hardwood forest, high elevation acidic cove forest, high elevation rocky summit, grass bald and vegetated wetland seeps.

Other important biological resources present include two federally listed endangered species, three state-listed threatened species and 31 other special status species and 32 invertebrates that are, or thought to be, new to science.

The study found the Ravensford site rich in cultural resources, containing intact deposits and/or features associated with over 8,000 years of human occupation. Almost the entire site in contained within the Oconaluftee Archaeological District.

Major components are present dating to the Middle Archaic, late Archaic, Early Woodland, Middle Woodland, Late Woodland and Historic Cherokee periods, according to the study.

"Significant 19th century Euro-American deposits are also present, along with the extensive remains of the 20th century lumber town of Ravensford," the study found. "The depositional environments over much of the tract have provided a favorable context for site preservation. Low-density deposits dating to the Early Archaic period are present on portions of the tract, and it has potential to contain additional artifacts and paleoenvirionmental data associated with the Early Holocene occupation of the area," the study continues.

Citing the important archeological significance of Ravensford, several environmental groups have objected to disturbing those open fields.

The National Park Service is soliciting public comments on the draft environmental impact statement at public meetings scheduled July 8-10 in Knoxville, Tenn., Asheville, and Cherokee. The public meetings will be held from 6-10 p.m. at these locations:

July 8, Knoxville, Ellington Hall, UT agricultural campus, 2431 Center Drive; July 9, Asheville, Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Arts Center; July 10, Cherokee, Cherokee Elementary School.

Comments also may be made via e-mail at @npslandexchange.com and toll free by phone at 1-888-820-3644 and toll free fax at 1-888-820-3643. Written comments sent by regular mail should be addressed to John Yancy, National Park Service, Southeast Regional Office, 100 Alabama St. SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30303.

The deadline for comments is Aug. 15.

Copies of the environmental impact statement can be downloaded from the Internet: www.npslandexchange.com. Printed copies can be reviewed at the following locations:

- Gatlinburg, Tenn., Anna Porter Public Library, 207 Cherokee Orchard Rd. and Great Smoky Mountains National Park headquarters, 107 Park Headquarters Rd.

- Cherokee, Qualla Boundary Public Library, 810 Acquoni Rd., and Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 1194 Newfound Gap Highway.

- Asheville, Ramsey Library, UNC-Asheville, and Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters, 199 Hemphill Knob Rd.

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