[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26033-26034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12015]



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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

[BM-13-APR-95-05]


Policy Statement Concerning Nondiscrimination in Agency Programs 
and Activities

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Policy statement.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) by the Farm Credit 
Administration Board (Board) adopts a policy statement prohibiting 
discrimination on the basis of disability in the operation of Agency 
programs and activities. The FCA has issued regulations at 12 CFR part 
606 to carry out the nondiscrimination mandate for section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Each FCA program or activity, 
when viewed in its entirety, shall be readily accessible to and usable 
by individuals with disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 13, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Floyd Fithian, Secretary to the Farm 
Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, 
Virginia 22102-5090, (703) 883-4000, TDD (703) 883-4444.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of the Board's policy statement 
concerning nondiscrimination in Agency programs and activities is set 
forth below in its entirety:

FCA Board Action on Policy Statement Concerning Nondiscrimination in 
Agency Programs and Activities, BM-13-APR-95-05, FCA-PS-67

    Effective Date: April 13, 1995.
    Effect on Previous Action: Supplements 12 CFR Part 606.

    Sources of Authority: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794); Memorandum from the U.S. 
Department of Justice, dated June 30, 1993; Resolution of the U.S. 
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, dated 
January 15, 1993.

    The FCA Board hereby approves the following policy statement 
concerning nondiscrimination in agency programs and activities:
    WHEREAS, the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) Board finds:
    Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (section 
504) prohibits Executive agencies from discriminating on the basis of 
disability in the operation of agency programs and activities. Under 
the provisions of Executive Order 12250, the Attorney General is 
responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's implementation of 
section 504 and this responsibility has been assigned to the U.S. 
Department of Justice (DOJ). The FCA has issued regulations at 12 CFR 
part 606 to carry out the nondiscrimination mandate of section 504.
    Because the Federal Government and private entities follow 
different accessibility standards in connection with the construction 
and alteration of facilities, the accessibility standards that apply to 
the Federal Government (known as the ``Uniform Federal Accessibility 
Standards'' or UFAS) are being revised to conform more closely to the 
accessibility standards that apply to private entities (known as the 
``Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines'' or ADAAG). 
After the revisions to UFAS are completed, the DOJ plans to direct 
Executive agencies to amend their nondiscrimination regulations to 
incorporate the new accessibility standard. In the interim before this 
rulemaking occurs, the DOJ is urging Executive agencies to circulate 
the resolution of the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers 
Compliance Board dated January 15, 1993, and to follow ADAAG in 
connection with the construction and alteration of facilities whenever 
ADAAG provides equal or greater access to individuals with disabilities 
than UFAS.
    THEREFORE, the FCA Board adopts the following policy statement:
    The FCA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the 
operation of Agency programs and activities. Each FCA program or 
activity, when viewed in its entirety, shall be readily accessible to 
and usable by individuals with disabilities. Accessibility may be 
achieved through a variety of methods, including the redesign of 
equipment, the assignment of aides to beneficiaries, the reassignment 
of services to alternate accessible sites, the alteration of existing 
facilities, and the construction of new facilities. The FCA is not 
required to alter an existing facility when there is another feasible 
way of providing access to programs and activities. If a building is 
constructed or altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of the FCA, the 
design, construction, or alteration is subject to applicable provisions 
of the ``Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards'' (UFAS).
    A different set of accessibility standards, known as the 
``Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines'' (ADAAG), 
applies to the design, construction, and alteration of places of public 
accommodation and commercial facilities owned, operated, or leased by 
private entities. State and local governments currently have the choice 
of following UFAS or ADAAG, but the regulations governing these public 
entities are being amended to require compliance with ADAAG. In an 
effort to apply one set of standards to all entities, UFAS is being 
revised to conform more closely to ADAAG.
    Until FCA regulations are amended to incorporate the new 
accessibility standard, the FCA Board has decided that the construction 
or alteration of a facility by, on behalf of, or for the use of the FCA 
shall comply with applicable provisions of ADAAG, to the extent that 
ADAAG provides equal or greater access to individuals with disabilities 
than UFAS. This policy is in conformance with guidance received from 
the U.S. Department of Justice.

    Adopted this 13th day of April, 1995 by order of the Board.

    [[Page 26034]] Dated: May 10, 1995.
Floyd Fithian,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 95-12015 Filed 5-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6705-01-P