ACTION ALERT
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.
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.
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.
