112 STAT. 218 PUBLIC LAW 105-178-JUNE 9, 1998 "(5) the project will augment MAGLEV networks identified as having partnership potential; "(6) financial assistance would foster public and private partnerships for infrastructure development and attract private debt or equity investment; "(7) financial assistance would foster the timely implementation of a project; and "(8) life-cycle costs in design and engineering are considered and enhanced. " (f) PROJECT SELECTION. — "(1) PRECONSTRUCTION PLANNING ACTIVITIES.—Not later than 90 days after a deadline established by the Secretary for the receipt of applications, the Secretary shall evaluate the eligible projects in accordance with the selection criteria and select 1 or more eligible projects to receive financial assistance for preconstruction planning activities, including— "(A) preparation of such feasibility studies, major investment studies, and environmental impact statements and assessments as are required under State law; "(B) pricing of the final design, engineering, and construction activities proposed to be assisted under paragraph (2); and "(C) such other activities as are necessary to provide the Secretary with sufficient information to evaluate whether a project should receive financial assistance for final design, engineering, and construction activities under paragraph (2). " (2) FINAL DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.— After completion of preconstruction planning activities for all projects assisted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall select 1 of the projects to receive financial assistance for final design, engineering, and construction activities. "(g) JOINT VENTURES. —^A project undertaken by a joint venture of United States and non-United States persons (including a project involving the deployment of non-United States MAGLEV technology in the United States) shall be eligible for financial assistance under this section if the project is eligible under subsection (d) and selected under subsection (f). " (h) FUNDING. — " (1) IN GENERAL.— "(A) CONTRACT AUTHORITY; AUTHORIZATION OF APPRO- PRIATIONS.— "(i) IN GENERAL. —There is authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out this section $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, and $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2001. "(ii) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—Funds authorized by this subparagraph shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1, except that— "(I) the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this section shall be determined in accordance with subsection (b); and "(II) the availability of the funds shall be determined in accordance with paragraph (2).
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