[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43136-43137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21637]


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ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD


Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee; Meeting

AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

ACTION: Notice of appointment of advisory committee members and date of 
first meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(Access Board) has decided to establish an advisory committee to assist 
it in developing a proposed rule on accessibility guidelines for newly 
constructed and altered passenger vessels covered by the Americans with 
Disabilities Act. The Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee 
(Committee) includes organizations which represent the interests 
affected by the accessibility guidelines for passenger vessels. This 
notice also announces the times of the first Committee meeting, which 
will be open to the public. A subsequent notice will announce the 
specific location within the Washington, DC area, where the meeting 
will be held.

DATES: The first meeting of the Committee is scheduled for September 24 
and 25, 1998, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: A subsequent notice will announce the specific location 
within the Washington, DC area, where the meeting will be held.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Beatty, 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 19 (Voice); (202) 
272-5449 (TTY). E-mail [email protected]. This document is 
available in alternate formats (cassette tape, Braille, large print, or 
computer disk) upon request. This document is also available on the 
Board's Internet Site (http://www.access-board.gov/rules/pvaac.htm).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 30, 1998, the Architectural and 
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) published a 
notice of intent to establish an advisory committee to provide 
recommendations for developing a proposed rule addressing accessibility 
guidelines for newly constructed and altered passenger vessels covered 
by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 63 FR 15175 (March 30, 1998). 
The notice identified the interests that are likely to be significantly 
affected by the accessibility guidelines: owners and operators of 
various passenger vessels; designers or manufacturers of passenger 
vessels; individuals with disabilities; and others affected by 
accessibility guidelines for passenger vessels.
    Over 90 nominations were submitted. Approximately 30 nominations 
were received from travel consultants. About 17 other nominations were 
received from individual members of the public who have disabilities 
(or have family members who have disabilities), most of whom indicated 
that they have experience with passenger vessels. Eight nominations 
were received from organizations representing persons with 
disabilities. Over 15 nominations were received from access consultants 
and attorneys with experience in accessibility issues. The remaining 
nominations primarily consisted of organizations representing the 
passenger vessel industry which includes some State and local 
government entities.
    For the reasons stated in the notice of intent, the Access Board 
has determined that establishing the Passenger Vessel Access Advisory 
Committee (Committee) is necessary and in the public interest. The 
Access Board has appointed 23 members to the Committee from the 
following organizations:

American Classic Voyages

[[Page 43137]]

American Society of Travel Agents, Committee on Travel for Persons with 
Disabilities
BB Riverboats
Boston Commission for Persons with Disabilities
Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating
Cruise Consultants International
International Council of Cruise Lines
Maine Department of Transportation
National Association of Charterboat Operators
National Tour Association
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Passenger Vessel Association
Port of San Francisco
Princess Cruises
Rhode Island Tourism Division
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People
Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
Southeast Alaska Independent Living
Southwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
Transportation Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Washington State Department of Transportation

    The Access Board regrets being unable to accommodate all requests 
for membership on the Committee. In order to keep the Committee to a 
size that can be effective, it was necessary to limit membership. It is 
also desirable to have balance among members of the Committee 
representing different clusters of interest, such as disability 
organizations and the passenger vessel industry. The Committee 
membership identified above provides representation for each interest 
affected by issues to be discussed.
    Committee meetings will be open to the public and interested 
persons can attend the meetings and communicate their views. Members of 
the public will have an opportunity to address the Committee on issues 
of interest to them and the Committee. Members of groups or individuals 
who are not members of the Committee may also have the opportunity to 
participate with subcommittees of the Committee. The Access Board 
believes that participation of this kind can be very valuable for the 
advisory committee process. Additionally, all interested persons will 
have the opportunity to comment when the proposed accessibility 
guidelines for passenger vessels are issued in the Federal Register by 
the Access Board.
    The meeting will be held at a site accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. Sign language interpreters and real-time captioning will 
be provided. Decisions with respect to future meetings will be made at 
the first meeting. Notices of future meetings will be published in the 
Federal Register.
Thurman M. Davis, Sr.,
Chairman, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
[FR Doc. 98-21637 Filed 8-11-98; 8:45 am]
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