Geology

Possible anakeesta rock could be successfully handled as it was on the Cherohala Skyway.

The following statements are quotes from the report to the technical committee for the inspection of the Bryson City Fontana Road construction, the first quote regarding the construction caused a landslide in the picture here. “Of the 50,000 cubic yards of material that was removed in the landslide, an estimated 6,000 cubic yards went over the Pioneer Road Bench and into Cane Grave Creek before it stopped. All plant material in its path was destroyed. It was estimated that 100,000 cubic yards of material would have to be moved to correct the slope. It is doubtful whether these cut slopes can ever be made completely stable.” The second quote, “It seems that over the centuries, the natural terrain has retained a rather delicate balance of stability which, when disturbed, even in a small way, brings out an imbalance which is more difficult to correct and reestablish, than is the case in most parks.”

As for the acid rock that would need to be addressed, I'm sure that the same problem has been encountered in many other road construction projects and has been overcome.

If the road is constructed, huge amounts of acid bearing rock and construction material will have to be removed and there is no suitable route. There will be damage to infrastructure and this should be taken into account in any decision about whether to build the road.

Most of the rock located within the proposed project's boundaries contains pyritic material. When disturbed and exposed to air and water it produces sulfuric acid threatening to sterilize the 140 streams and watercourses the road will cross and risking one of the richest cold water fisheries in the southeast.

And, just where do the “experts” think they're going to dump the acid-bearing rock dug up for this travesty?

As for the infamous Anakeesta rock, research supports the fact that it is no problem to road builders and hasn't been for years. A spokesman for the park admitted at a meeting here in Bryson City a few years ago, Anakeesta rock was just something used to stop the road.

Floodplains

We should all be familiar with the hurricanes and the flooding of the last several years, it is anticipated, in today's practices that those events will overwhelm whatever devices you put in place. Now where is that overflow going to go? It's going to go downhill. It's going to go downhill via the streams and it's going to go into the lake.

Air Quality

I read an article the other day about Cades Cove and all the traffic going through Cades Cove and all. They were talking about actually closing that road and maybe run some shuttle buses to lower the pollution problems in the Cades Cove area. I've also years ago heard them talk about establishing a no-fly zone over the GSMNP where you wouldn't have to listen to noise pollution from the airplanes traveling overhead. This road would increase pollution and increase noise to that park area.

American Lung Association cites Swain County as the county with the cleanest air in NC.