7.2 General Exceptions
The basis for the determination that General Exception 1 or General Exception 2 apply shall be documented and maintained with the records of the construction or alteration project. Documentation shall include the rationale for that determination, which conditions for exception and which exceptions apply, the date of the determination, and the name of the individuals who made the determination. There is no standard format for this documentation; each unit may develop its own format to meet its specific needs.
7.2.1 General Exception 1.
Where a condition in 7.1 prohibits full compliance with a specific requirement in 7.4 on a trail segment, that trail segment shall comply with the specific requirement to the maximum extent practicable.
7.2.2 General Exception 2.
If after applying General Exception 1 it is determined that it is impracticable to provide a trail complying with 7.4, the trail shall not be required to comply with 7.4. Notification of this determination shall be sent to the Access Board. Website http://.access-board.gov/outdoor for optional use. For long-distance trails, this exception applies to the trail segments that are planned for construction or alteration in a given planning period, rather than over the entire length of the trail.
7.2.2.1 Determining Impracticability.
The use of General Exception 2 is reasonable where one or more conditions for an exemption in section 7.1 and at least one of the following limiting factors exist:
Limiting Factor 1. The combination of trail running slope (grade) and cross slope exceeds 1:2.5 (40 percent) for over a distance of 20 feet (6m).
Limiting Factor 2. The surface is not firm and stable for a distance of 45 feet or more (14 m).
Limiting Factor 3. The minimum trail width is 12 inches (305 millimeters) or less for a distance of at least 20 feet (6100 mm).
Limiting Factor 4. A trail obstacle of at least 30 inches (770 mm) in height extends across the full width of the trail.
Limiting Factor 5. One or more conditions for an exception exist that result in significant deviations from the technical provisions of section 7.4.1 through 7.4.8 for over 15 percent of the length of the trail.
7.2.2.2 Extent of Impracticability.
Where General Exception 2 permits exemption of an entire trail from the requirements of section 7.4.1 through 7.4.8, it may be beneficial to construct a portion of the trail to meet the trail accessibility guidelines. Consider doing so especially if a prominent feature (such as a scenic view, waterfall, or other feature that would be of interest to visitors) is located between the trail terminus and the first extreme environmental barrier and there are few or no significant conditions requiring exceptions on that portion of the trail.
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