Our Position

The BMTA has adopted the position of all trail and outdoor organizations in the southeastern United States:
We oppose I- 3.
Please visit the Stop I-3 Coalition's website for more information.

Memorandum to Rep. Norwood

To: Congressman Charlie Norwood

From: Steve Cartwright, President
Benton MacKaye Trail Association

Re: Interstate 3

Date: Sept 21, 2005

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has consistently been ranked as the National Park with the worst air quality. This is primarily due to airborne particulates released by internal combustion engines in the region and how those pollutants are affected by the locally prevailing weather patterns. Placing an interstate closer to the park can only add to this problem rather than work toward a solution. The BMTA feels that federal funds could more wisely be used toward projects intended to decrease, rather than add to, this problem.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes the largest federally protected roadless area east of the Mississippi River. While the proposed highway would not pass through the park’s roadless area, it does send a clear message to the public that the federal government is interested in new road construction at the cost of local and regional quality of life.

The BMTA supports the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the health of this nation’s citizens, especially through programs that provide improvements in air quality and the promotion of healthy activities. BMTA supports backpackers, distance hikers and day hikers, groups that directly benefit from protected land and are directly impacted by poor air quality. This is an opportunity for the government to uphold a policy of conserving national park land, while also taking an initiative in air quality improvement, and the BMTA strongly urges that this policy be pursued.

The BMTA believes there are many other issues that need federal funds more than Interstate 3. Some of these issues include education, healthcare, and relief on the Gulf Shore.

Ultimately, the BMTA does not feel that the potential benefits of this project outweigh the known negative impacts, nor does this appear to be the best use of federal funding at this time.

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