Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9409010101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This week, the federal agency mailed letters to people on its "Friends of the Forest" mailing list as the start of an environmental assessment of the project.
The Virginia Department of Transportation wants to build the highway through a section of the recreation area as part of its plans to upgrade U.S. 58. The transportation board has approved shifting the existing route up into federal forest land. The existing route in that area is a two-lane, winding, sometimes treacherous road.
The project has divided many communities in Grayson, Wythe, Smyth and Carroll counties. Some see the road improvement as a much-needed economic boon for the hilly, mostly rural region - which is the state's chief justification for the project.
Others have long opposed the rerouting of U.S. 58, claiming it is too expensive and would destroy much of the natural beauty that draws tourists. The opponents, organized as the Mountain Heritage Alliance, say the state could route the new road onto Interstate 77 and 81 for that part of the project.
"We've been encouraging the Forest Service to step forward and take a leadership role. We're delighted," said Kay Slaughter, an attorney with the Charlottesville-based Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the opponents.
She said that while VDOT would do environmental reviews of each section of the road as they are built, that wouldn't give the true picture of the overall environmental impact.
VDOT would have to get permission from the forest to cross the Mount Rogers area. It would also need permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction near or over the New River, Slaughter said. She said the state has not applied for those federal permits.
The Jefferson National Forest is beginning "scoping" for an environmental assessment. If the agency finds the potential for significant impact from the project, it would conduct a more formal and detailed environmental impact statement, which could take years.
The Jefferson is undertaking the process now because VDOT is proceeding with funding and planning for sections of the road, and because federal law requires an early start on environmental assessments.
Forest staff and citizens have already noted some drawbacks to the project, including:
Harming threatened and endangered species
Displacing part of the Appalachian Trail and disrupting another seven-mile stretch of the national scenic hiking trail.
Eliminating the popular Hurricane campground
Fragmenting wildlife habitat
Damaging visibility, air and water quality, visual attractiveness and trout fisheries.
The proposed route would not bring the jobs and growth predicted by VDOT.
Citizens are asked to comment by Oct. 30 by sending letters to the National Forest at 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke 24019-3050, or by calling (703) 265-6054 or the Mount Rogers ranger station at (703) 783-5196.
by CNB