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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2003

The National Park Service held the second of three meetings about a proposed land swap between the Eastern Band of Cherokees and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Tribal members favor the swap, which will allow them to build a school on a 168-parcel within the park. The tribe will give up land elsewhere in exchange.

Conservationists oppose the transfer, saying it will harm rare species in the park. They also claim it will set a precedent nationwide.

Rep. Chuck Taylor (R-N.C.) has introduced a bill to make the swap legal.

Get the Story:
Tribe members urge park service to OK land swap (The Asheville Citizen-Times 7/9)

Relevant Documents:
Environmental Impact Statement: Eastern Cherokee Land Exchange (NPS June 2003) | Written Witness Testimony (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:
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)