Frist strong Smokies Park supporter

Frist strong Smokies
Park supporter

Dear Editor:

We are writing in response to an article by Erin Hudson on clean air in the Smokies in a recent issue. Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy made an unfair and wrong assumption about our U.S. Senator Bill Frist and we would like to set the record straight.

Senator Frist is and has been a strong supporter of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He has been on the Smoky Mountain Congressional Caucus since its beginning in 1998. He has worked to secure funding for trail repair and restoration, a new laboratory facility, and an East Tennessee ozone study. In addition, Senator Frist has taken the lead on regulating commercial air tours over the Smokies and all national parks. In fact, Mr. Frist and his family are frequent visitors to the Smokies, where like so many of us, they enjoy hiking and camping. Senator Frist has taken an active interest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and related issues such as air quality.

Tennessee has two U.S. Senators and three U.S. representatives who are good advocates for our park through the Smoky Mountain Congressional Caucus. I am grateful to them for being champions in our efforts to protect and preserve our nation's most-visited national park. For Mr. Smith to imply that Senator Frist has been "deadly silent" on issues concerning the Park is simply dead wrong. Whether Republican or Democrat I am particularly grateful to all those in Congress who advocate cleaner air and support for the Smokies.

Sincerely,

Gary R. Wade, President
Charles W. Maynard
Executive Director
Friends Of Great Smoky
Mountains National Park
P.O. Box 5650
Sevierville, Tenn. 37864