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For immediate release March 20, 2006 PUBLIC INVITED TO COMMENT ON CUMBERLAND PLATEAU NATIONAL
HERITAGE CORRIDOR FEASIBILITY STUDY Nashville, Tenn. - Residents of the Cumberland Plateau region will have a chance to review the draft Feasibility Study for the proposed Cumberland Plateau National Heritage Corridor at a series of public workshops scheduled for the week of March 27, 2006. The Feasibility Study examines the Cumberland Plateau's natural and cultural resources as well as the potential economic benefits that designation as a National Heritage Corridor could bring to Plateau communities. The study is a required part of the process of trying to obtain National Heritage Corridor designation. "The partnerships involved in this project are an example of how a diverse group of government agencies, organizations and citizens can work together to preserve and protect the unique resources of the Cumberland Plateau," said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. "These are exactly the kind of partnerships that Governor Bredesen is looking for in his commitment to prioritize and preserve special places across Tennessee." The heritage corridor project is a regional enterprise of state and local governments, business and tourism interests, conservation and historic preservation organizations, and Plateau residents. Its purpose is to promote economic development throughout the region through increased tourism and to protect the Plateau's natural, historical, and cultural resources. "The Plateau has too long been America's undiscovered mountain range," said Franklin County Mayor Monty Adams. "This project is going to help us change that. We've never had this kind of unique partnership of governments, organizations and residents all working together to protect and promote the region as a whole. It's the kind of strategy we need." Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill said, "Our home is one of the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the world and the most diverse freshwater ecosystem on the planet. In addition to this, the Plateau has many historic and natural attractions that make the place we call home inviting to tourists, bringing in business and tax revenues that directly benefit the region's residents. I believe that once the Cumberland Plateau is designated a National Heritage Corridor, we will see this trend continue to develop in our favor." Once public comment is received, the draft Feasibility Study will be finalized and sent to Congress. Congress will vote on whether to designate the Cumberland Plateau as a National Heritage Corridor. If the Plateau does receive the designation, the federal government would contribute funds for its preservation, but would not own the land. "Nature-based and heritage-based tourism is the fastest growing sector of the tourism market, and the Plateau is extraordinarily rich in those kinds of attractions," said Katherine Medlock, director of the Alliance for the Cumberlands, a regional umbrella group coordinating this initiative. "If we can bring more visitors into the region and create more jobs and a sustainable local economy based on what's great about the Plateau, and then we'll have a better chance to protect the natural and cultural resources that make it all possible." The public workshops are designed to present the findings of the Cumberland Plateau National Heritage Corridor draft Feasibility Study to local citizens and to receive public input about this initiative. The meetings will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. local time at the following locations: March 27: Huntsville, at the Big South Fork Visitor Center, 12025 Scott Highway (US 27), about a mile north of the intersection of highway 63. March 29: Monteagle, at the Monteagle City Hall. 16 Dixie Lee Avenue, just off Main Street (southeast side of town) adjacent to the Library near exit 135 off of I-24. March 30: Crossville, at the Cumberland County Courthouse, 2 North Main St. The draft Feasibility study is available on Environment and Conservation's Web site at www.tdec.net/recreation/cumberlandplateau.pdf. The department will be taking public comments through April 5, 2006. Anyone who would like to submit written comments may do so at the meetings or by emailing Edwin Gardner at ESGV@Bellsouth.net or mailing comments to: Department of Environment and Conservation The draft Feasibility Study was paid for by a federal grant and matching funds provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environment and Conservation. ###
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For more information contact: Tisha Calabrese-Benton, TDEC, (865) 594-5442
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