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NATURE

Government to buy Cumberland Island tract

Access to Cumberland Island's historic sites, such as this African American church, was one of the issues resolved in the agreement   

February 19, 1999
Web posted at: 3:30 PM EST




Ending months of negotiation, the federal government agreed Wednesday to purchase the Grayfield North tract on Cumberland Island National Seashore.

The compromise balances conflicting historic preservation and wilderness protection issues sought by island residents, environmentalists and historic preservationists, said the Department of Interior.

"Both the historic resource and wilderness character were slipping away from us," said Don Barger, southeast regional director for the National Parks and Conservation Association. "We had to figure out how to compromise our divergent perspectives without compromising Cumberland Island."

The agreement calls for the release of the last $5.5 million in federal money necessary to finalize the purchase of the 1,148-acre Grayfield North tract. The appropriation will be matched by $6 million in private funds from The Nature Conservancy.

To promote historic preservation on the island, the National Park Service has committed $1.8 million from this year's federal budget for the restoration of the Plum Orchard Mansion, interpretive signs and education materials.

The agreement also commits the National Park Service to add $650,000 for preservation of other historic and archaeological resources on the island and increases the yearly base funding for the national seashore by $300,000.

One of the major issues addressed by the agreement deals with vehicle access on some of the island's roads that, while legally and regularly traveled by residents and the park service, are technically in the wilderness area.

The agreement created a process for allowing limited vehicle access on the roadways which would produce "no net increase in impact" on the wilderness user and allow for enhanced preservation and visitor access to some historic structures.

"This agreement reflects our strong support for managing natural and cultural resources and a new level of commitment for protecting and preserving the historic structures and sites on the seashore," said Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Don Barry.

Copyright 1999, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved


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