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Monday, September 15, 2003

The House this week will debate a bill to exchange 143 acres within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 168 acres owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokees.

The tribe wants the land to build a new school for one that is crumbling. Republicans who are supporting the bill say the National Park Service will get more out of the exchange.

But the National Parks Conservation Association commissioned a study saying the federal land is worth $3.5 million while the land the tribe is offering is worth about $500,000.

Get the Story:
Proposed Land Swap Controversy Moves to the House (The Washington Post 9/15)

Relevant Documents:
Environmental Impact Statement: Eastern Cherokee Land Exchange (NPS June 2003) | Testimony: House Resources Committee (June 18, 2003)

Get the Bill:
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act of 2002 (H.R.1409)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Land Exchange - http://www.npslandexchange.com
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - http://www.cherokee-nc.com
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
National Parks Conservation Association - http://www.eparks.org

Related Stories:
NPS holding meetings on Eastern Cherokee land swap (07/10)
Cherokee swap site home to rare species, artifacts (7/7)
NPS to hold public meetings on Cherokee land swap (6/30)
NPS doesn't oppose Eastern Cherokee land swap (6/19)
House committee to consider tribal bills (6/18)
Tribal school project on 'endangered' parks list (01/15)
Indian man resigning from Park Service (12/10)
NPS manager to quit over Cherokee swap (10/04)
Yellowstone bison death toll mounts (5/23)
Group cites tribal transfer as danger to park (3/26)
Cherokee tribe urges land swap (2/13)

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