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week of 2/27/02 | ||
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Public
comment period on Cherokee land swap extended
SMN The deadline for the first round of public comments on a proposed land exchange involving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been extended for 30 days, according to the National Park Service. Jerry Belson, the Park Service’s southeast regional director, said he granted the extension at the request of environmental groups and other interested citizens at last week’s public scoping meetings on the proposal held in Cherokee, Asheville and Knoxville. “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. “Originally we had asked for comments to be submitted by Feb. 28. We’re extending that deadline to March 30.” The Park Service is in the initial stage of preparing an environmental impact statement on the tribe’s proposal to acquire the 168-acre Ravensford tract at Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a site for a new public school complex to serve the nearby town of Cherokee. In exchange, the tribe would purchase a 218-acre tract near Watterock Knob in Jackson County that would be added to the Blue Ridge Parkway. 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, by e-mail to npslandexchange@saic.com, or by toll-free fax to 888.820.3643. Additional information about the two sites proposed for the swap can be found at www.npslandexchange.com. |