A new road or rail line in Germany goes through a Planfeststellungsverfahren, a plan approval procedure. The chambers of industry and commerce describe it as a strictly formalized procedure that makes a comprehensive decision on whether a project is permitted. The municipalities put the plan on public display for one month. Anyone whose own interests are affected can then raise objections, within a set period. At the end, the authority issues the Planfeststellungsbeschluss, the plan approval decision. This one decision includes and replaces all the separate permits, consents and authorizations that the project would otherwise need. The approved plan is the permit.