Access Board Issues Draft Final Rule on Outdoor Areas for Public Comment

On October 19, the U.S. Access Board issued the draft final rule on
accessibility guidelines for outdoor developed areas including trails,
camping and picnic facilities, viewing areas and beaches. The
accessibility guidelines, when adopted, would apply to facilities
covered by the Architectural Barriers Act including Federal land
management agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau On October 19, the U.S. Access Board issued the draft final rule on
accessibility guidelines for outdoor developed areas including trails,
camping and picnic facilities, viewing areas and beaches. The
accessibility guidelines, when adopted, would apply to facilities
covered by the Architectural Barriers Act including Federal land
management agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau
of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, the final
accessibility guidelines would also apply to the following non-federal
entities that construct or alter facilities on Federal lands on behalf
of the Federal government: private entities that construct or alter
camping facilities, picnic facilities, or beach facilities on Federal
lands pursuant to a concession contract or other arrangement with a
Federal agency under which the Federal agency reviews or approves the
design of the facility and has a property interest in the facility;
state or local government entities that construct or alter camping
facilities, picnic facilities, or beach facilities on Federal lands
pursuant to an agreement with a Federal agency under which the Federal
agency reviews or approves the design of the facility and has a
property interest in the facility; and non-profit organizations and
state or local government entities that enter into partnerships with a
Federal agency to construct or alter trails or viewing areas on Federal
lands.

Entities covered by the final rule are encouraged to review the draft
document and provide public comment to the U.S. Access Board before
December 18, 2009.

The draft document has been reformatted from the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking issued in 2007 to be more consistent for incorporation into
the Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act
(ADA-ABA) Accessibility Guidelines. Entities are encouraged to review
the scoping and technical provisions for clarity, ease of understanding
and application of the draft guidelines to real outdoor scenarios.

For further information, contact Bill Botten at the Board at
botten@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0014 (v), or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).
The Board intends to develop similar guidelines for outdoor developed
areas controlled by non-Federal entities at a future date.


To view the draft document and submit comments, go to >
http://www.access-board.gov/outdoor/draft-final.htm

of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, the final
accessibility guidelines would also apply to the following non-federal
entities that construct or alter facilities on Federal lands on behalf
of the Federal government: private entities that construct or alter
camping facilities, picnic facilities, or beach facilities on Federal
lands pursuant to a concession contract or other arrangement with a
Federal agency under which the Federal agency reviews or approves the
design of the facility and has a property interest in the facility;
state or local government entities that construct or alter camping
facilities, picnic facilities, or beach facilities on Federal lands
pursuant to an agreement with a Federal agency under which the Federal
agency reviews or approves the design of the facility and has a
property interest in the facility; and non-profit organizations and
state or local government entities that enter into partnerships with a
Federal agency to construct or alter trails or viewing areas on Federal
lands.

Entities covered by the final rule are encouraged to review the draft
document and provide public comment to the U.S. Access Board before
December 18, 2009.

The draft document has been reformatted from the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking issued in 2007 to be more consistent for incorporation into
the Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act
(ADA-ABA) Accessibility Guidelines. Entities are encouraged to review
the scoping and technical provisions for clarity, ease of understanding
and application of the draft guidelines to real outdoor scenarios.

For further information, contact Bill Botten at the Board at
botten@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0014 (v), or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).
The Board intends to develop similar guidelines for outdoor developed
areas controlled by non-Federal entities at a future date.


To view the draft document and submit comments, go to >
http://www.access-board.gov/outdoor/draft-final.htm