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“THE NORTH SHORE ROAD MUST BE COMPLETED” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Senate section on pages S12132-S12133 on Nov. 29, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE NORTH SHORE ROAD MUST BE COMPLETED
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, for some time I have felt inclined to discuss in the Senate a matter for the Record and of importance to the people living in the far western counties of North Carolina and in the beautiful mountains adjacent to the Tennessee border.
The matter involved is the federal government's finally fulfilling after a fashion a commitment made in 1943 in writing by the U.S. Government to the citizens of Swain County. The federal government proposed to build a road along the north shore of Fontana Lake which was created in World War II to provide power to the TVA. This written commitment was made to citizens who voluntarily gave up their homes to support the U.S.'s World War II defense efforts.
The federal government has not yet fulfilled its commitment, and that has caused a great deal of resentment and mistrust of the government among the citizens of Swain County and other surrounding counties on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
These citizens understandably believe that the federal government should now live up to its written commitment made during World War II because these people gave up their homes in order that Fontana Lake could be built so that power could be generated by TVA.
But, there has been a curious development. A small group of citizens in Swain County now proposes to ask that the federal government buy them out, thereby voiding that federal government commitment made in 1943. They presented the proposal that they be bought out to the Swain County Commissioners, and, praise the Lord, the commissioners rejected this suggestion.
So as a result of the $16 million appropriation in the fiscal year 2001 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, this project has at long last begun to move. The National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration have restarted this process to complete that road as promised, in writing, in 1943 to the citizens of Swain County and western North Carolina.
Mr. President, I have a letter in hand, along with the text of the resolution adopted by the Swain County Commissioners which expresses their thanks for the $16 million that provided for continued road construction and improvements that were included in the fiscal year 2001 Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
The commissioners of Swain County want that road completed. The people of Swain County want that road completed.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the aforementioned letter and resolution be printed in the Record, following which I shall resume my remarks.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
November 9, 2001.Jesse Helms,Dirksen Senate Building,Washington, DC.
Senator Jesse Helms: I again take this opportunity to thank you for the continued support you have showed for projects in Swain County.
Attached is a statement, which you should have received earlier, thanking you for the work you have done on behalf of Swain County and the North Shore Road.
Sincerely Yours,
Jim Douthit,Chairman, Swain County Commissioners.
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Swain County Board of Commissioners
Statement regarding the appropriation of $16M for construction of and improvements to the North Shore Road
The Swain County Board of Commissioners would like to thank Senator Jesse Helms, Congressman Charles Taylor, and President Bill Clinton for making available from the Highway Trust Fund for Swain County 16 million dollars for construction of and improvements to the North Shore Road in Swain County North Carolina.
With the completion of this road, the federal government will have fulfilled their contract with Swain County known as the 1943 Agreement, then trust can be restored between Swain County and the federal government. We feel this appropriation will go a long way in helping Swain County.
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, roads in national parks are vital pieces of economic infrastructure that fuel the engines of economic growth. In fact, the National Park Service itself recognizes as much on its Web site. Let me quote: ``Recreation travel accounts for 20 percent of travel in the United States. Park roads are a vital part of America's transportation network, providing economic opportunity and growth in rural regions of the country. In addition to the park access, motor tourism has created viable gateway communities en route. In some areas entire economies are based on park road access. Examples include communities near Yellowstone, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.''
Why on Earth, then, are these economic benefits denied to the people living in the counties on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? I will tell you why. The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have been held hostage by self-
proclaimed environmentalists and their sympathizers in the Interior Department who are horrified, obviously, by their pretended apprehension that environmental Armageddon will somehow result from the construction of a simple ``two-lane dustless road,'' as specifically called for in the 1943 agreement, signed by the Federal Government.
Mind you, this would be a Blue Ridge Parkway-type road allowing for greater access on the North Carolina side of the park just as long ago occurred on the State of Tennessee side a few miles west.
Additionally, according to the National Park Service statistics, there are 5,000 miles of paved roads and 3,000 miles of unpaved roads in the National Park System of this country. My question is, can anybody seriously suggest that 30 more miles will cause an environmental Armageddon? The thought is laughable. Of course not. But that is the ringing cry of these professional environmentalists.
In fact, the Federal Government began building the road back in 1963, and did build 2\1/2\ miles of it. In 1965, they built another 2.1 miles. Then in 1969, they built an additional mile, plus a 1,200-foot-
long tunnel.
That was when, Mr. President, the self-appointed environmentalists created an uproar and forbade the Federal Government from going further, which has caused, by the way, economic problems for the four North Carolina counties surrounding the park that I am talking about.
Road engineering has improved enormously since that most recent section was built in 1969. Many more improved methods are now available to address the concerns thrown up by these self-appointed environmental opponents of progress.
Let me make it clear, I have no problem with our Tennessee neighbors who are ably represented by Senators Frist and Thompson, but I am obliged, as a Senator from North Carolina, to emphasize some meaningful and relevant statistics of the National Park Service.
In the 2000 report, which has the most recent statistics available, the Park Service stated that 4,477,357 visitors came to the North Carolina side of the park, while 5,698,455 visitors came to the Tennessee side of the park. Of course, for anybody who wants to figure it out, it is a difference of 1,221,098 visitors.
Additionally, according to the latest available retail sales per capita figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the four Tennessee counties surrounding the park have averaged $9,431.25, but the average for the four North Carolina counties that need that road for more tourists to come there have averaged $7,964.00, a difference of $1,467.25, if you want to get down to the penny.
The North Carolina State average is $9,740.00 per capita, and the Tennessee State average is $9,448.00 per capita. The four Tennessee counties surrounding the park averaged just $16.75 under the Tennessee State average. The four North Carolina counties, on the other hand--the four counties of which we are talking about in terms of building this road along the north shore of Fontana Lake--come in $1,776.00 under the North Carolina average.
Now then, these figures are among countless indications of the inequities between the North Carolina side and the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Let me assure the Administration of this: I have met with the distinguished Director of the National Park Service, Fran Mianella and she is a very pleasant lady--to let her know that this is a significant issue with citizens of western North Carolina who have been neglected.
I am hopeful she and Secretary Norton will give this matter their highest priorities and will continue to move this project well away from those who have for too long been holding it hostage.
I will continue my opposition to a Federal buyout of the Federal Government's commitment in 1943 to the citizens of Swain County and western North Carolina. I commend the commissioners of Swain County for standing flatfooted against it as well.
Mr. President, I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for 5 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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