After hearing debate last Wednesday, a resources panel will soon vote on U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor’s bill proposing the exchange of 143 acres of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 218 acres of pristine land owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The Cherokees, who have been interested in a swap for the past thirty years, are desperate for land suitable for the construction of a new school to relieve overcrowded classrooms. While some environmental groups oppose the bill out of concern for the area’s wildlife, proponents point out that endangered species currently living in Cherokee land might be better protected under federal supervision. If the panel votes in favor of the bill, it will advance to the House floor, then the Senate before seeking final approval by President Bush.
