[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26033-26034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12015]
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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
[BM-13-APR-95-05]
Policy Statement Concerning Nondiscrimination in Agency Programs
and Activities
AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.
ACTION: Policy statement.
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SUMMARY: The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) by the Farm Credit
Administration Board (Board) adopts a policy statement prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of disability in the operation of Agency
programs and activities. The FCA has issued regulations at 12 CFR part
606 to carry out the nondiscrimination mandate for section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Each FCA program or activity,
when viewed in its entirety, shall be readily accessible to and usable
by individuals with disabilities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 13, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Floyd Fithian, Secretary to the Farm
Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration, McLean,
Virginia 22102-5090, (703) 883-4000, TDD (703) 883-4444.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of the Board's policy statement
concerning nondiscrimination in Agency programs and activities is set
forth below in its entirety:
FCA Board Action on Policy Statement Concerning Nondiscrimination in
Agency Programs and Activities, BM-13-APR-95-05, FCA-PS-67
Effective Date: April 13, 1995.
Effect on Previous Action: Supplements 12 CFR Part 606.
Sources of Authority: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794); Memorandum from the U.S.
Department of Justice, dated June 30, 1993; Resolution of the U.S.
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, dated
January 15, 1993.
The FCA Board hereby approves the following policy statement
concerning nondiscrimination in agency programs and activities:
WHEREAS, the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) Board finds:
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (section
504) prohibits Executive agencies from discriminating on the basis of
disability in the operation of agency programs and activities. Under
the provisions of Executive Order 12250, the Attorney General is
responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's implementation of
section 504 and this responsibility has been assigned to the U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ). The FCA has issued regulations at 12 CFR
part 606 to carry out the nondiscrimination mandate of section 504.
Because the Federal Government and private entities follow
different accessibility standards in connection with the construction
and alteration of facilities, the accessibility standards that apply to
the Federal Government (known as the ``Uniform Federal Accessibility
Standards'' or UFAS) are being revised to conform more closely to the
accessibility standards that apply to private entities (known as the
``Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines'' or ADAAG).
After the revisions to UFAS are completed, the DOJ plans to direct
Executive agencies to amend their nondiscrimination regulations to
incorporate the new accessibility standard. In the interim before this
rulemaking occurs, the DOJ is urging Executive agencies to circulate
the resolution of the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board dated January 15, 1993, and to follow ADAAG in
connection with the construction and alteration of facilities whenever
ADAAG provides equal or greater access to individuals with disabilities
than UFAS.
THEREFORE, the FCA Board adopts the following policy statement:
The FCA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the
operation of Agency programs and activities. Each FCA program or
activity, when viewed in its entirety, shall be readily accessible to
and usable by individuals with disabilities. Accessibility may be
achieved through a variety of methods, including the redesign of
equipment, the assignment of aides to beneficiaries, the reassignment
of services to alternate accessible sites, the alteration of existing
facilities, and the construction of new facilities. The FCA is not
required to alter an existing facility when there is another feasible
way of providing access to programs and activities. If a building is
constructed or altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of the FCA, the
design, construction, or alteration is subject to applicable provisions
of the ``Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards'' (UFAS).
A different set of accessibility standards, known as the
``Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines'' (ADAAG),
applies to the design, construction, and alteration of places of public
accommodation and commercial facilities owned, operated, or leased by
private entities. State and local governments currently have the choice
of following UFAS or ADAAG, but the regulations governing these public
entities are being amended to require compliance with ADAAG. In an
effort to apply one set of standards to all entities, UFAS is being
revised to conform more closely to ADAAG.
Until FCA regulations are amended to incorporate the new
accessibility standard, the FCA Board has decided that the construction
or alteration of a facility by, on behalf of, or for the use of the FCA
shall comply with applicable provisions of ADAAG, to the extent that
ADAAG provides equal or greater access to individuals with disabilities
than UFAS. This policy is in conformance with guidance received from
the U.S. Department of Justice.
Adopted this 13th day of April, 1995 by order of the Board.
[[Page 26034]] Dated: May 10, 1995.
Floyd Fithian,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 95-12015 Filed 5-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6705-01-P
