Who determines which projects go into the Merger Process and which ones do not?
the Merger Process owner agencies (NCDOT, FHWA, NCDENR and USACE) decide which projects go into the Merger process using the screening criteria contained in the Merger Process Guidelines. The ‘triggers’ to place a project into the Merger process generally include the need for an Individual Permit (IP) by the USACE based upon the anticipated wetland or stream impacts, and/or potential impacts to two or more specified resources. • What are pipeline projects? Pipeline projects are Merger eligible projects that were already underway in various stages of project development when the original Merger and/or Merger Process were implemented. The Merger process owners (NCDOT, FHWA, USACE and NCDENR) reviewed these projects and determined if and at what concurrence point they would be placed into the Merger process. A pipeline project may also include non-Merger projects that are placed into the process at Concurrence Points 4B (Hydraulic Review) and 4C (Permit Drawing Review). This second type o
