[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 44037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18997]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44037]]



ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD


Informational Meetings

AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

ACTION: Notice of informational meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(Access Board) will hold two informational meetings at the dates and 
locations noted below. The meetings will assist the Access Board in 
developing accessibility guidelines under the Americans with 
Disabilities Act for passenger vessels. Specifically, the meetings will 
focus on the issue of providing accessible embarkation and 
disembarkation for persons with disabilities on and off passenger 
vessels which are subject to 46 CFR subchapters H or K, and foreign 
flag vessels of a comparable size and passenger capacity.

DATES: The Access Board will hold the first meeting on August 20, 2003, 
from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A second meeting will be held on September 
9, 2003, from 1: p.m to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting on August 20 will be held at the Hilton New 
Orleans Riverside, Two Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA. The second 
meeting, on September 9 will be held at the Seattle Marriott 
Waterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA.

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) 272-0012 (Voice); (202) 272-0082 (TTY). 
These are not toll-free numbers. Electronic mail address: board.gov">pvag@access-board.gov. This document is available in alternate formats (cassette 
tape, Braille, large print, or ASCII disk) upon request. This document 
is also available on the Board's Internet Site (http://www.access-board.gov/pvagmtg.htm).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1998, the Access Board established an 
advisory committee to make recommendations on accessibility guidelines 
for passenger vessels. Membership included disability groups, industry 
organizations, State and local government agencies, and passenger 
vessel operators. The Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee held 
nine meetings from September 1988 to September 2000 and submitted a 
final report to the Board entitled ``Recommendations for Accessibility 
Guidelines for Passenger Vessels'' in December 2000. The Board has made 
this report widely available as a source of guidance until final 
guidelines are developed. The report is available on the Access Board's 
Web site at http://www.access-board/gov/pvaac/commrept/index.htm. 
Single copies of this publication may be obtained at no cost by calling 
the Access Board's automated publications order line (202) 272-0080, by 
pressing 2 on the telephone keypad, then 1, and requesting publication 
A-42 (Recommendations for Accessibility Guidelines for Passenger 
Vessels). Persons using a TTY should call (202) 272-0082. Please record 
a name, address, telephone number and request publication A-42. This 
document is available in alternate formats upon request. Persons who 
want a copy in an alternate format should specify the type of format 
(cassette tape, Braille, large print, or ASCII disk).
    Although the advisory committee provided recommendations on a 
number of issues, specific recommendations regarding running slopes for 
gangways were not provided. (See Chapter 2 of the Recommendations for 
Accessibility Guidelines for Passenger Vessels report.) Because 
passenger vessels come in different shapes and sizes and the marine 
environment in which the piers are located are influenced by many 
factors which add to the complexities of providing access, additional 
information is needed on this topic before specific criteria for 
gangway running slopes can be proposed for public comment.
    The meetings will principally focus on the issue of gangway running 
slopes. As gangways are the primary method used in providing a 
pedestrian connection between piers and passenger vessels, the running 
slope of such gangways is an important access issue for persons with 
disabilities. In addition to gangways, the meeting will also focus on 
other methods used to provide access on and off passenger vessels. 
Issues not related to providing access on and off passenger vessels are 
not the subject of these meetings.
    To maximize the time available, the meeting will only focus on 
passenger vessels which are subject to 46 CFR subchapters H or K (and 
foreign flag vessel of a comparable size and passenger capacity). These 
passenger vessels are typically larger vessels, as compared to those 
subject to subchapters C or T.
    Interested members of the public are encouraged to contact Paul 
Beatty at the Access Board at (202) 272-0012 (Voice), (202) 272-0082 
(TTY) or board.gov">pvag@access-board.gov to pre-register to attend the 
informational meetings. All meetings are accessible to persons with 
disabilities. Sign language interpreters and an assistive listening 
system are available at all meetings. Persons attending the 
informational meetings are requested to refrain from using perfume, 
cologne, and other fragrances for the comfort of other participants.

Lawrence W. Roffee,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 03-18997 Filed 7-24-03; 8:45 am]
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