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

Legal Authority and Purpose

The Architectural Barriers Act requires facilities constructed or altered by or on behalf of federal agencies to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Certain agencies are required to adopt accessibility standards for the design, construction, and alteration of facilities covered by the Architectural Barriers Act.² We are required by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act to establish and maintain minimum guidelines and requirements for the accessibility standards adopted the federal agencies. We are issuing the final rule pursuant to this authority. The final rule amends the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines that we issued in 2004 to address camping facilities, picnic facilities, viewing areas, trails, and beach access routes constructed or altered by or behalf of federal agencies.