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FINAL PURPOSE & NEED
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The purpose of the proposed action is to discharge and
satisfy any obligations on the part of the United States
that presently exist as the result of the Memorandum of Agreement of October 8, 1943, between the U.S. DOI; TVA; Swain County, North Carolina; and the state of North Carolina. The Agreement dealt with the creation of Fontana Dam and Reservoir that caused the flooding of lands and roads within Swain County. As part of the Agreement, 44,170 acres of land were ultimately transferred to the DOI and made part of GSMNP. The Agreement contained a provision by which the DOI was to construct a road through GSMNP, along the north shore of the newly formed Fontana Lake (generally located between Fontana Dam and Bryson City, North Carolina), to replace the flooded NC 288.
Approximately seven miles of the originally proposed North Shore Road have been constructed, with the last segment being completed in 1970. The need of the project is to determine whether or not it is feasible to complete the road and to evaluate other alternatives that would satisfy the obligation. Both build (i.e., road or other facilities) and no-build alternatives will be developed to determine how the 1943 obligation will be met. |
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