Outdoor Developed Areas: A Summary of Accessibility Standards for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas

Exemptions for an Entire Trail or Beach Access Route [1017.1, Exception 2 and 1018.1, Exception 2]

When extreme or numerous conditions for exceptions make it impractical to construct a trail or beach access route that complies with the technical requirements, the ABA Standards provide an exemption for the entire trail or beach access route. The exemption for an entire trail or beach access route can only be used after applying the conditions for exceptions to portions of the trail or beach access route. When determining whether to exempt an entire trail or beach access route, consider the portions of the trail or beach access route that can and cannot comply with the specific provisions in the technical requirements and the extent of compliance where full compliance cannot be achieved.

Notifying the Access Board When an Entire Trail or Beach Access Route is Exempted [F204.4.1]

In the rare cases where an entire trail or beach access route is exempted, Federal agencies must notify the Access Board about the exemption. Sample notification forms are in the appendix of this guide and are also available on the Access Board’s Web site at www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and -standards/recreation-facilities/outdoor-developed-areas/final-guidelines -for-outdoor-developed-areas/notification-forms. Federal agencies do not have to obtain approval from the Access Board to exempt an entire trail or beach access route. The Access Board will monitor the use of exemptions for an entire trail or beach access route and may provide additional guidance on the use of such exemptions. Federal agencies are encouraged to seek technical assistance from the Access Board when considering exempting an entire trail or beach access route.