[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3315]



 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 5723]]


ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191


Accessibility Guidelines for Play Facilities

AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

ACTION: Establishment of regulatory negotiation committee and first 
committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(Access Board) has decided to establish a regulatory negotiation 
committee to develop a proposed rule on accessibility guidelines for 
newly constructed and altered play facilities covered by the Americans 
with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act. The 
regulatory negotiation committee will be composed of organizations who 
represent the interests affected by the accessibility guidelines for 
play facilities. This document also announces the times and location of 
the first meeting of the regulatory negotiation committee.

DATES: The first meeting of the regulatory negotiation committee is 
scheduled for March 5, 6 and 7, 1996, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. 
The meeting will end at 4:30 p.m. on March 5 and 6, 1996 and at 2:00 
p.m. on March 7, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The first meeting of the regulatory negotiation committee 
will be held at the Embassy Suites, 1250 22nd Street NW., Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Greenwell, Office of Technical 
and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers 
Compliance Board, 1331 F Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, DC. 
20004-1111. Telephone number (202) 272-5434 extension 34 (Voice); (202) 
272-5449 (TTY). This document is available in alternate formats 
(cassette tape, braille, large print, or computer disc) upon request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 1995, the Architectural and 
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) published a 
notice of intent to establish a regulatory negotiation committee to 
develop a proposed rule on accessibility guidelines for newly 
constructed and altered play facilities covered by the Americans with 
Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act. 60 FR 66538 
(December 22, 1995). The notice identified the interests that are 
likely to be significantly affected by the accessibility guidelines: 
manufacturers and designers of play facilities; State and local 
governments; schools, parks, and day care centers; individuals with 
disabilities; voluntary standard groups; and the Federal government. 
The notice proposed a list of 17 organizations to represent these 
interests on the regulatory negotiation committee. Comments were 
requested on the proposal to establish the regulatory negotiation 
committee and the proposed committee membership.
    Eighteen comments were received in response to the notice. All the 
commenters supported the establishment of the regulatory negotiation 
committee. The comments identified two additional interests that are 
likely to be significantly affected by the accessibility guidelines: 
parents and playground surface manufacturers. The National Parent-
Teacher Association and the ASTM 1 Playground Surfaces Task Group 
(F8.52.01) will be added as members to the regulatory negotiation 
committee to represent these interests.

    \1\ American Society for Testing and Materials.
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    The following 19 organizations will comprise the regulatory 
negotiation committee:

Access Board
ASTM \1\ Playground Surfaces Task Group (F8.52.01)
ASTM \1\ Public Playground Committee (F15.29)
ASTM \1\ Soft Contained Play Committee (F15.36)
American Society of Landscape Architects
The Council for Exceptional Children
International City/County Management Association
National Association of Counties
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Child Care Association
National Council on Independent Living
National Easter Seal Society
National League of Cities
National Parent-Teacher Association
National Recreation and Park Association
Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association
Spina Bifida Association of America
TASH 2

    \2\ The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps
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United Cerebral Palsy Association

    Several commenters indicated that they wanted to present 
information to the regulatory negotiation committee on playground 
surfaces, soft contained play facilities, and other topics. The Access 
Board agrees that making such information available to the regulatory 
negotiation committee will greatly assist its work and will recommend 
that the committee hold informational meetings where organizations and 
individuals can present information to the committee.
    The first meeting of the regulatory negotiation committee will be 
held in Washington, DC on March 5, 6 and 7, 1996. The times and 
location of the meeting are listed at the beginning of this notice. The 
meeting is open to the public. The meeting site is accessible to 
individuals with disabilities. Individuals with hearing impairments who 
require sign language interpreters should contact Peggy Greenwell by 
February 26, 1996, by calling (202) 272-5434 extension 34 (voice) or 
(202) 272-5449 (TTY).

    Issued on February 8, 1996.
John H. Catlin,
Chairman, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
[FR Doc. 96-3315 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8150-01-P