<< Back 10/2/02 Taylor bill would finalize land exchange SMN There is a new twist to the Ravensford land exchange issue — Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.) has introduced legislation (HR5468) to “effect the land exchange.” The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are in the middle of a public process to study the feasibility of exchanging approximately 168 acres in the park for 218 acres along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waterrock Knob. The tribe is seeking the Ravensford tract to build schools and to reconnect the Big Cove community to the rest of the Qualla Boundary. The tribe and the park have been working on the issue for two years. Environmental, archaeological and natural resource studies have been performed at both site. A series of public hearings was held last fall and an Environmental Impact Statement and further public comment is expected in early 2003. “We feel this legislation, if successful, would circumvent the appropriate public process we have been working on for a year-and-half and it would bypass the facts. We would hope an issue like this would be examined thoroughly on its own merits,” said Don Barger, director of the southeast regional office of the National Parks Conservation association. According to the Thomas Legislative website (http://thomas.loc.gov/) the bill is still at the Government Printing Office. Bob Miller, spokesman for the GSMNP, said park officials were given a draft for “mark-up” comments but that they had not seen the final version. Miller said if the bill passes, all the work and expense of the public process could be for naught. “Congress makes the boundaries of national parks and Congress can taketh away,” Miller said. The only comment from Taylor’s office was an email restating the Congressman’s public statement of support for the land exchange fwith the added statement: “My bipartisan bill (H.R. 5468) is co-sponsored by Reps. Jones of N.C.; Carson of Oklahoma (D) and Kildee (D) of Michigan (Chairman of the Native American Caucus in the House). The bill, to effect the land exchange is the next step in moving this process forward for the education of the children of WNC.” The EBCI said they were appreciative of the congressman’s support. “From the Tribe’s perspective, we appreciate Congressman Taylor’s support and look forward to moving ahead on the land exchange,” said David Nash, tribal attorney general.