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• The Engineer's report is submitted to the NC Construction Loans and Grants <br />Section, which will review the documents and make a recommendation as to <br />whether the project requires the preparation and submittal of additional <br />environmental documents (an Environmental Assessment [EA] or Environmental <br />Impact Statement [EIS]) or receives a "Categorical Exclusion" meaning that no <br />additional environmental documents have to be prepared. <br />• NC Construction Loans and Grants Section, upon completing its review, will submit <br />the Engineer's report along with its own findings and recommendation to the US <br />Army Corps of Engineers, the US Fish and Wildlife Agency and the NC Office of <br />Cultural Resources for their independent review and comment. <br />• Assuming that these agencies concur with the finding fora Categorical Exclusion, <br />their findings and comments, along with the Engineer's Report, will be submitted to <br />the EPA for its review and release of the STAG funds. <br />• The County will secure the necessary railroad right of way <br />• Once the Construction Loans and Grants Section makes its findings on the <br />Engineer's Report and all necessary changes made and questions addressed, the <br />Consulting Engineer will submit the completed plans and specifications. <br />• When the plans and specifications have been reviewed/revised, if required, and <br />approved, the Construction Loans and Grants Section will authorize the County to <br />advertise the project for bids as soon as EPA approval of the Engineer's Report is <br />given. <br />• The project will be advertised for approximately six weeks, then bids will be taken. <br />• The bids will be evaluated by staff and submitted to the BOCC for its approval. <br />• The County Attorney and the EPA will review and approve the construction contract <br />and a Notice to Proceed will be issued. <br />• The construction project will commence and will take some 18 to 24 months to <br />complete. <br />A projected timetable for the events or steps listed above is outlined below. This timetable <br />is based on usual time for reviews and envisions that: a) the BOCC will approve the <br />Engineer's Report as submitted; and b) all review agencies will concur in a finding of <br />Categorical Exclusion. If additional environmental evaluation and associated documents <br />are required to be undertaken, submitted and approved, additional work is required; <br />additional review agencies become involved; and the project timeline lengthens by an <br />unknown but significant amount of time.