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The following message covers an important issue that will affect all trails
supporters. We have a chance to comment on accessible trail guidelines for
federal lands. While this proposal does not include federally-funded projects
or grants, a future version will ultimately affect all new trails, everywhere.
We'll try to help you understand this process with all the details and
commentary at
www.AmericanTrails.org.
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Trail Accessibility Guidelines Open to
Public Comment
The Access Board, Washington, DC has just announced an important
step in the process to establish rules for building accessible trails. A
“Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (NPRM) has just been published in the Federal
Register, which triggers a 90-day public comment period.
The deadline for comment is
October 18, 2007. The NPRM includes proposed rules for
Federal agencies that are based on the guidelines developed by a regulatory
negotiation committee for the Access Board in 1999.
What will happen during the 90-day comment
period?
During the comment period, two public hearings are planned: July
24, 2007 in Denver, CO and on September 6, 2007 in Washington, DC. The
hearings provide an opportunity for verbal comments. Electronic comments will
also be accepted. All comments will also be available for public review.
What is the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Outdoor Developed Areas?
The NPRM is the next step for the Access Board in establishing minimum
accessibility guidelines. It provides guidance on the design and construction
of newly constructed and altered trails, outdoor recreation access routes,
picnic and camping facilities, and beach access routes. The format of the
proposed rule includes a preamble (background information about the committee
and the various provisions), the text of the provisions, and the regulatory
assessment report on the proposed rule.
The NPRM is based on a final report from the Regulatory Negotiation Committee
on Outdoor Developed Areas, presented to the Board in September 1999. This 27
member Regulatory Negotiation Committee, including all the Federal land
management agencies, represents a consensus approach to making outdoor
developed areas accessible to persons with disabilities.
What does this mean for non-Federal trail
projects?
The NPRM is directed to Federal agencies. However, State, local and private
recreation providers can look to these guidelines as the most current
available information for making outdoor facilities accessible.
The deadline
for comment is October 18, 2007.
For more on this process, discussion, and the full text of the NPRM, visit the
Accessible Trails section of the American Trails website at
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/accessible/index.
Check the American Trails website at
www.AmericanTrails.org for continuing updates.
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