Carbon County must complete an archaeological survey as yet another step before being able to complete a proposed multiuse fire training facility in Nesquehoning.

On Thursday, the board approved a proposal with RGA Inc. of Cranbury, New Jersey, to complete the survey as required through the National Historic Preservation Act and recommended by the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission's state historic preservation office. The cost of the survey will not exceed $8,692 and will take approximately four to five weeks to complete.Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the county had an archaeological survey done on the grounds at the prison site in 1993, but regulations have changed so much that another one is required for the project.The surveyors will dig 90 holes to make sure there are no archaeological items, such as buried foundations, that would be disturbed with the proposed $10 million project."It's another bump in the road," Nothstein said. "An expensive bump."Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said he felt the survey, much like the rattlesnake survey that the county had to complete last year, is a waste of money, but if the county wants to move forward, it has to be done.Commissioner William O'Gurek agreed with Gerhard's thoughts.The training facility has been in the works since 2015.Once completed, it will provide fire departments with live fire training sites, a drill tower and other training necessities, as well as give police, county departments and EMS classroom and training options that normally are completed in other counties.It will be located on the ground surrounding the Emergency Management Agency/911 Communications Center.