36 CFR Part 1191 ABA Accessibility Guidelines, Outdoor Developed Areas - Preamble

1018.1 General

This section contains the technical requirements for beach access routes. The technical requirements address connections (1018.2); surface (1018.3); clear width (1018.4); obstacles (1018.5); openings (1018.6); slopes, including running slope (1018.7.1) and cross slope (1018.7.2); resting intervals (1018.8); protruding objects (1018.9); and dune crossings (1018.10).

Three exceptions are provided. When an entity determines that a condition in 1019 does not permit full compliance with a specific provision in 1018 on a portion of a beach access route, Exception 1 permits the portion of route to comply with the provision to the extent practicable. When an entity determines that it is impracticable to provide a beach access route complying with the technical requirements in 1018, Exception 2 does not require a beach access route. This determination is made after the entity applies Exception 1 to portions of the route. The entity should consider the portions of the beach access route that can and cannot fully comply with the specific provisions in 1018 and the extent of compliance where full compliance cannot be achieved when determining whether it would be impracticable to provide a beach access route complying with the technical requirements in 1018. Exception 3 exempts removable beach access routes from complying with the technical requirements for running slope (1018.7.1) and cross slope (1018.7.2); resting intervals (1018.8); and dune crossings (1018.10). As discussed under F201.4.1, federal agencies are required to document the basis for their determination when using Exceptions 1 or 2, and are required to notify us when using Exception 2.