[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 48940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20796]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights; 
Certification of the Maryland Accessibility Code Under the Americans 
With Disabilities Act

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice will hold an informal hearing in 
Washington, DC on the proposed certification that the Maryland 
Accessibility Code, under .05.02.02 of the Code of Maryland Regulations 
(COMAR), as adopted pursuant to Article 83B, section 6-102 of the 
Annotated Code of Maryland (together, the Maryland law), meets or 
exceeds the new construction and alterations requirements of title III 
of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

DATES: The hearing in Washington, DC is scheduled for Wednesday, 
October 22, 2003, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at: Disability Rights Section, 1425 
New York Avenue, NW, Suite 4039, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John L. Wodatch, Chief, Disability 
Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 1425 NYA Building, Washington, DC 20530. 
Telephone number (800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
    Copies of this notice are available in formats accessible to 
individuals with vision impairments and may be obtained by calling 
(800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, the 
Department of Justice (Department) is publishing a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing that it had preliminarily determined that 
the Maryland Accessibility Code, under .05.02.02 of the Code of 
Maryland Regulations (COMAR), as adopted pursuant to Article 83B, 
section 6-102 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (together, the Maryland 
law), meets or exceeds the new construction and alterations 
requirements of title III of the ADA. The Department noted that it 
intended to issue final certification of the Maryland law and requested 
written comments on the preliminary determination and the proposed 
final certification. The Department also noted that it intended to hold 
an informal hearing in Ellicott City, Maryland, during the 60-day 
comment period on the preliminary determination.
    Procedure: In addition to the informal hearing in Ellicott City, 
Maryland, the Department will hold an informal hearing in Washington, 
DC, after the close of the 60-day comment period to provide an 
opportunity for interested persons, including individuals with 
disabilities, to express their views with respect to the issuance of a 
final determination of equivalency of the Maryland Law. Interested 
parties who wish to testify at the hearing should contact Linda Garrett 
at (202) 353-0423 TTY, or by e-mail at [email protected].
    The meeting site will be accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. Individuals who require sign language interpreters or 
other auxiliary aids should contact Linda Garrett at (202) 353-0423 
TTY, or by e-mail at [email protected]. A notice of at least four 
days before the hearing date would be greatly appreciated if 
individuals require sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aids.

    Dated: August 8, 2003.
J. Michael Wiggins,
Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 03-20796 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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