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http://seymourherald.com/politics/2009/nov/03/smokies-national-parks-funding/

smokies, national parks funding passes senate, goes to president’s desk for signature

alexander says bill also funds important water projects for tennessee

published: November 03 2009 12:48 PM updated:: November 04 2009 12:11 AM WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced that the conference report to the Interior appropriations bill he co-authored and that passed the Senate today will fund a number of conservation efforts across Tennessee, including increased funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and several water and wastewater projects in Tennessee communities. The bill would provide $20.4 million in base operations funding for the Smokies, an increase of $1 million over last year.  It now goes to the president for his signature.
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it’s been a pleasure to serve as the lead Republican senator on the bill that funds the park in such a historic year,” said Alexander, who is the senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which funds national parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  “This legislation includes important funding to improve aging infrastructure across our state and help preserve our pristine landscapes for future generations to enjoy—including our national parks, which some have appropriately called ‘America’s best idea.”
The Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and some of the Related Agencies Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects:
·         $6 million for the Cherokee National Forest for conservation of Rocky Fork. Funding would allow the Cherokee National Forest to purchase property known as Rocky Fork Tract, an approximately 10,000-acre tract of land adjacent to existing national forest – one of the largest remaining tracts of pristine wilderness in the eastern United States. This project is the U.S. Forest Service’s highest-ranked land acquisition project.
·         $1.5 million for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for historical collection research and preservation. Funding would be used to construct a new facility to preserve historic artifacts and documents from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The current facility is rented by the park, does not adequately protect artifacts, and is located an hour drive away.
·         $340,000 for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to improve infrastructure at the Cosby recreation area. Funding would be used to help replace 50-year-old water-production equipment – building a new 30,000-gallon above-ground reservoir, 10,300 linear feet of new distribution system piping, new valves, and the installation of fire hydrants. Unlike the current equipment, these new components will meet all state and federal standards.
·         $1.6 million for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to improve infrastructure at the Tremont educational area. Funding would be used to replace deteriorating water and wastewater systems at the Institute at Tremont. These systems are located next to the Little River and untreated water is polluting the river. The project would bring the systems into compliance with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regulations.
·         $500,000 for the Cherokee National Forest to relocate and construct a new work center. Funding would be used to complete a new Cherokee National Forest Work Center for employees and equipment used to maintain federally managed property in the Watauga region of the forest. The current work center is in the middle of a commercial area, making it more costly to maintain and further from the forest.
·         $500,000 for Hancock County for water supply to the Treadway community and Clinch School. Funding would be used to install piping to provide safe public drinking water to households and students at a public K-12 school. These locations currently are served by water sources that are threatened by contamination and to which access is denied during drought conditions.