Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 8 / Thursday, January 12, 1995 / Notices 2987

Department of Justice, P.O. Box 66738,

Washington, D.C. 20035–6738.

The hearings will be held at:

Washington, D.C.:

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights

Division, Public Access Section, 1425

New York Avenue, N.W., 4th floor

conference room, Washington, D.C.

Seattle, Washington:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA), Building

Nine (9) Auditorium, 7600 Sand Point

Way, N.E., Seattle, Washington

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Wodatch, Chief, Public Access

Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S.

Department of Justice, P.O. Box 66738,

Washington, D.C. 20035–6738.

Telephone number (800) 514–0301

(Voice) or (800) 514–0383 (TDD).

Copies of this notice are available in

formats accessible to individuals with

vision impairments and may be

obtained by calling (800) 514–0301

(Voice) or (800) 514–0383 (TTY). Copies

of the Washington code and supporting

materials may be inspected by

appointment at 1425 New York Avenue,

N.W., Washington, D.C. by calling Tito

Mercado at (202) 307–0663 (Voice/

TDD). This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The ADA authorizes the Department

of Justice, upon application by a State

or local government, to certify that a

State or local law that establishes

accessibility requirements meets or

exceeds the minimum requirements of

title III of the ADA for new construction

and alterations. 42 U.S.C.

§ 12188(b)(1)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.601 et

seq. Final certification constitutes

rebuttable evidence, in any ADA

enforcement action, that a building

constructed or altered in accordance

with the certified code complies with

the new construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the ADA.

By letter dated January 27, 1992, the

Washington State Building Code

Council (Council) requested

certification that the Washington State

Regulations for Barrier Free Design

(code) meets or exceeds the new

construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the ADA.

On May 20, 1993, after consulting

with the Architectural and

Transportation Barriers Compliance

Board (Access Board), the Department

provided technical assistance to the

Council identifying issues that needed

to be addressed before certification

could be considered.

On August 20, 1993, the Council

made a supplemental submission,

providing its 1992 amendments to the

code, newly-issued interpretations of

the code, and comments responding to

the Department’s preliminary response.

By letter dated March 23, 1994, the

Council provided further

supplementation of its submission.

On July 22, 1994, the Department

responded to the supplemental

submissions. On November 17, 1994,

the Council adopted amendments to the

code addressing the remaining issues

raised by the Department. By letter

dated November 28, 1994, the Council

submitted those amendments as a

supplement to its certification request.

The Department has analyzed the

Washington code, as adopted on

November 8, 1991, and amended on

November 13, 1992 and November 17,

1994, and has preliminarily determined

that it meets or exceeds the new

construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the ADA. By

letter dated December 6, 1994, the

Department notified the Council of its

preliminary determination of

equivalency.

Effect of Certification

The certification determination will

be limited to the version of the

Washington code, including the

amendments and interpretations, that

has been submitted to the Department.

The certification will not apply to

amendments or interpretations that have

not been submitted and reviewed by the

Department.

The certification will not apply to any

elements or features not addressed in

the Washington code. If a builder

incorporates such elements, he or she

will not be entitled to reply on the

rebuttable evidence of ADA compliance

provided by certification for those

elements. Nor will the certification

apply to the Appendix provisions of the

Washington code, which are advisory

only. Finally, the certification will not

apply to waivers granted under the

Washington code by local building

officials. Therefore, if a builder receives

a waiver, modification, variance, or

other exemption from the requirements

of the Washington code for any element

of construction or alterations, the

certification determination will not

constitute evidence of ADA compliance

with respect to that element.

Procedure

The Department will hold informal

hearings in Washington, D.C. and

Seattle, Washington to provide an

opportunity for interested persons,

including individuals with disabilities,

to express their views with respect to

the preliminary determination of

equivalency of the Washington code.

Interested parties who wish to testify at

a hearing should contact Tito Mercado

at (202) 307–0663 (Voice/TDD). This is

not a toll-free number.

The hearing sites shall be accessible

to individuals with disabilities.

Individuals who require sign language

interpreters or other auxiliary aids

should contact Tito Mercado at (202)

307–0663 (Voice/TDD). This is not a

toll-free number.

Dated: January 5, 1995.

Kerry Alan Scanlon,

Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil

Rights.

[FR Doc. 95–742 Filed 1–11–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–01–M

Certification of Washington State

Regulations for Barrier Free Design

Under the Americans With Disabilities

Act

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of Hearings.

SUMMARY: The Department of Justice

will hold informal hearings on the

proposed certification that the

Washington State Regulations for

Barrier Free Design meet or exceed the

new construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

in Washington, DC and Seattle,

Washington.

DATES: The hearing in Seattle,

Washington is scheduled for January 27,

1995 at 9:00 AM, Pacific Time, The

hearing in Washington, DC is scheduled

for March 27, 1995 at 9:30 AM, Eastern

Time.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held at

Washington, DC:

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights

Division, Public Access Section, 1425

New York Avenue, NW., Room 4064,

Washington, DC.

Seattle, Washington:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA), Building

Nine (9) Auditorium, 7600 Sand Point

Way, NE., Seattle, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Wodatch, Chief, Public Access

Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S.

Department of Justice, P.O. Box 66738,

Washington, DC 20035–6738.

Telephone number (800) 514–0301

(Voice), (800) 514–0383 (TDD).

Copies of this notice are available in

formats accessible to individuals with

vision impairments and may be

obtained from the Public Access Section

at (800) 514–0301 (Voice) or (800) 514–

0383 (TDD).
2988 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 8 / Thursday, January 12, 1995 / Notices

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The ADA authorizes the Department

of Justice (Department), upon

application by a State or local

government, to certify that a State or

local law that establishes accessibility

requirements meets or exceeds the

maximum requirements of title III of the

ADA for new construction and

alterations. 42 U.S.C. 12188(b)(1)(A)(ii);

28 C.F.R. 36.601 et seq. Final

certification constitutes rebuttable

evidence, in any ADA enforcement

action, that a building constructed or

altered in accordance with the certified

code complies with the new

construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the ADA.

By letter dated January 27, 1992, the

Washington State Building Code

Council (Council), requested

certification by the Attorney General

that the Washington State Regulations

for Barrier Free Design (code) meets or

exceeds the new construction and

alterations requirements of title III of the

ADA.

On May 20, 1993, after consulting

with the Architectural and

Transportation Barriers Compliance

Board (Access Board), the Department

provided technical assistance to the

Council identifying issues that needed

to be addressed before certification

could be considered.

On August 20, 1993, the Council

made a supplemental submission,

providing its 1992 amendments to the

code, newly-issued interpretations of

the code, and comments responding to

the Department’s preliminary response.

By letter dated March 23, 1994, the

Council provided further

supplementation of its submission.

On July 22, 1994, the Department

responded to the supplemental

submissions. On November 17, 1994,

the Council adopted amendments to the

code addressing the remaining issues

raised by the Department. By letter

dated November 28, 1994, the Council

submitted those amendments as a

supplement to its certification request.

The Department has analyzed the

Washington code, as adopted on

November 8, 1991, and amended on

November 13, 1992, and November 17,

1994, and has preliminary determined

that it meets or exceeds the new

construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the ADA. By

letter dated December 6, 1994, the

Department notified the Council of its

preliminary determination of

equivalency.

Effect of Certification

The certification determination will

be limited to the version of the

Washington code, including the

amendments and interpretations, that

has been submitted to the Department.

The certification will not apply to

amendments or interpretations that have

not been submitted and reviewed by the

Department.

The certification will not apply to any

elements or features not addressed in

the Washington code. If a builder

incorporates such elements, he or she

will not be entitled to rely on the

rebuttable evidence of ADA compliance

provided by certification for those

elements. Nor will the certification

apply to the Appendix provisions of the

Washington code, which are advisory

only. Finally, the certification will not

apply to waivers granted under the

Washington code by local building

officials. Therefore, if a builder receives

a waiver, modification, variance, or

other exemption from the requirements

of the Washington code for any element

of construction or alterations, the

certification determination will not

constitute evidence of ADA compliance

with respect to that element.

Comments and Hearings

On January 12, 1995 the Department

published a notice in the Federal

Register announcing that it had

preliminarily determined that the

Washington code meets or exceeds the

new construction and alterations

requirements of title III of the ADA. The

Department also noted that it intended

to issue final certification of the

Washington code and requested written

comments on the preliminary

determination and the proposed final

certification. Finally, the Department

noted that it intended to hold informal

hearings in Washington, D.C. and

Seattle, Washington.

The purpose of the informal hearings

is to provide an opportunity for

interested persons, including

individuals with disabilities, to express

their views with respect to the

preliminary determination of

equivalency of the Washington code.

Interested parties who wish to testify at

a hearing should contact Tito Mercado

at (202) 307–0663 (Voice/TDD). This is

not a toll-free number.

The meeting sites will be accessible to

individuals with disabilities.

Individuals who require sign language

interpreters or other auxiliary aids

should contact Tito Mercado at (202)

307–0663 (Voice/TDD). This is not a

toll-free number.

Dated: January 5, 1995.

Kerry Alan Scanlon,

Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil

Rights.

[FR Doc. 95–743 Filed 1–11–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Bureau of International Labor Affairs;

U.S. National Administrative Office;

North American Agreement on Labor

Cooperation; Hearings on

Submissions #940003 and #940004

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of hearings.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is

to announce hearings, open to the

public, on Submissions #940003 and

#940004.

Submission #940003, filed with the

U.S. National Administrative Office

(NAO) by the International Labor Rights

Education and Research Fund, the

Asociacion Nacional de Abogados

Democraticos (National Association of

Democratic Lawyers), the Coalition for

Justice in the Maquiladoras, and the

American Friends Service Committee,

involves labor law matters in Mexico

and was accepted for review by the

NAO on October 13, 1994. Notice of

acceptance for review was published in

the Federal Register on October 20,

1994. Submission #940004, filed by the

United Electrical, Radio and Machine

Workers of America, also involves labor

law matters in Mexico and was accepted

for review on November 4, 1994. Notice

of acceptance for review was published

in the Federal Register on November 10,

1994.

Article 16(e) of the North American

Agreement on Labor Cooperation

(NAALC) provides for the review of

labor law matters in Canada and Mexico

by the NAO in accordance with U.S.

domestic procedures. Revised

procedural guidelines pertaining to the

submission, review, and reporting

process utilized by the Office were

published in the Federal Register on

April 7, 1994. The guidelines provide

for a hearing as part of the review.

DATES: The hearing on Submission

#940003 will be held on February 13,

1995, commencing at 9: A.M. The

hearing on Submission #940004 will be

held immediately following the hearing

on Submission #940003, continuing, if

necessary, on February 14.

Persons wishing to provide

information or present their views on

matters related to the review of