Decision-making Philosophy

Each agency should enter discussion of a concurrence point with a solution-oriented attitude. After sufficient discussion and an opportunity for NCDOT to provide requested information, each agency will either concur or non-concur, or, in exceptional cases, abstain.

If an organization decides to either non-concur or abstain, that organization is responsible for documenting its reasons in writing and providing that documentation to all Project Team Members within 5 business days of the Project Team meeting. Primary agencies are responsible for reviewing the reasons for abstaining to determine if the process should move forward. Definitions of concurrence, non-concurrence and abstention are provided below:

• "I do not object to the proposed action based on the laws and regulations of my program and agency."

• "I do not concur as the information is not adequate for this stage and/or concurrence could violate the laws and regulations of my program and agency."
  

  Non-concurrence should not be utilized based on lack of information without affording NCDOT a reasonable opportunity to provide the requested information.

• "I do not actively object, but I am not signing the concurrence form. The Merger Process may continue, and I agree not to revisit the concurrence point subject to the guidance on revisiting concurrence points."
  (documented on page 2 of the Merger MOU)