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Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines update Final U.S Forest Service Accessibility Guidelines and Directives on Accessibility Published in the Federal Register See Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines and Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines. On May 22, 2006 the notices of the final amendments to the agency's policy manuals, Forest Service Manuals 2330 and 2350 (FSM) were published in the Federal Register. Also included in these notices are the responses to comments received when the proposed directives were published in 2005. The Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) are linked to these to FSMs and therefore the FSORAG and FSTAG are both now also final for use in the National Forest System. The effective date is the date of publication in the Federal Register, therefore May 22, 2006. The Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines are linked to these to FSMs and therefore the FSORAG and FSTAG are both now also final for use in the National Forest System (NFS). The NFS is comprised of 175 National Forests and Grassland from Alaska to Puerto Rico and Maine to California, encompassing 192 million acres of outdoor recreation opportunities. The FSORAG and FSTAG were developed to guide the agency in the integration of accessibility into the outdoor recreation environment in a manner that maximizes accessibility while maintaining the natural setting. The FSORAG applies to outdoor recreation areas and structures not covered under existing accessibility guidelines including new or altered campsites, picnic areas, overlooks, the routes connecting those facilities, and beach access routes. The FSTAG provides guidance to ensure that new or altered trails with a designed use of hiker/pedestrian are developed to maximize accessibility for all people, while protecting the natural setting and experience of each trail. The directives also contain revisions to Forest Service Manual (FSM) chapter 2330 Publicly Managed Recreation Opportunities and FSM chapter 2350 Trail, River, and Similar Recreation Opportunities that clarify agency terminology, procedures and existing policies related to the accessibility of outdoor recreation areas. U.S. Forest Service Accessibility Guidebook on Outdoor Recreation and Trails published online on May 22, 2006 Also on May 22, 2006 the Forest Service released the new FS Accessibility Guidebook on Outdoor Recreation and Trails. This Guidebook is a user-friendly guide to integrating accessibility in the outdoor recreation environment while maintaining the natural settings. Its development was funded through a partnership with the Recreation Trail Program of the Federal Highways Administration of the Department of Transportation under a Forest Service Recreation Project through the Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC). This new Guidebook is easy to use, full of photos, illustrations, design tips, hotlinks and valuable side-bar information to help Forest Service personnel, as well as the agency's partners, contractors, and Federal and State agencies working in cooperation with the Forest Service to assist in a better understand of the integration of accessibility into the outdoor recreation environment and how to apply the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines and Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines. On Monday May 22, this Guidebook also became available at http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/accessibility in HTML and in printer friendly PDF. Janet A. Zeller National Accessibility Program Manager USDA Forest Service Recreation and Heritage Resources 202-205-9597 |
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