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<p class="MsoPlainText">
Greetings GDB Alumni, please read the note below from fellow GDB Grad and GDUI
Legislative Committee Chairperson, Laurie Mehta.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>This is a rare opportunity to comment on an issue that is important to
all of us who travel with Guide Dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>I hope you take advantage of this and let your voice be heard.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
***</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Dear GDUI-affiliate leadership and all guide dog handlers, Please participate in
the public comment period that is currently open (and which will end on November
28, 2011).
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Here is information that you will need when submitting comment to the U.S.
Department of Transportation regarding service animal relief areas at U.S.
airports.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Please note that the information specific to the issue of service animal relief
areas is featured here.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
This information is comprehensive, but it is worth your time to review.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
FYI: The "sterile" area of an airport is the part of the area that is only
accessible after a person undergoes the TSA screening process.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
As guide dog handlers, our participation in communicating guide dog handler
needs, to those who make and enforce regulations that effect us, is extremely
important.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Thank you,</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Laurie Mehta, GDUI-Legislative Committee Chairperson
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Here is how to submit comment for</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
docket number DOT-OST-2011-0182
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
On the web:</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/site/R?i=ZuwM5IZSyS49a5OFOklZMg">
http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=DOT-OST-2011-0182-0001</a></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
You must include the agency name and docket number DOT-OST-2011-0182 (see
details below)
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Mail:</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Docket Management Facility</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
U.S. Department of Transportation</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
West Building Ground Floor</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Room W12-140</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Washington, DC 20590</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Courier:</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
FAX: (Include Docket Number)</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
(202) 493-2251</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
INFORMATION ON PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREAS AT AIRPORTS
IN THE U.S.:</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Office of the Secretary</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
49 CFR Part 27</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
RIN 2105-AD91</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2011-0182]</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving
Federal Financial Assistance (U.S. Airports)</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOT).</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
-----------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
SUMMARY: The Department is proposing to amend its rules implementing section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires accessibility in airport
terminal facilities that receive Federal financial assistance.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
The proposed rule includes new provisions related to service animal relief areas
and captioning of televisions and audio-visual displays that are similar to new
requirements applicable to U.S. and foreign air carriers under the Department's
Air Carrier Access (ACAA) regulations, 14 CFR part 382.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
The NPRM also proposes to reorganize the provision in 49 CFR 27.72 concerning
mechanical lifts for enplaning and deplaning passengers with mobility
impairments, and to amend this provision so airports are required to work not
only with U.S. carriers but also foreign air carriers to ensure lifts are
available where level entry loading bridges are not available.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
This proposed rule would apply to airport facilities located in the U.S. with
10,000 or more annual enplanements and that receive Federal financial
assistance.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this
proposal. Comments must be received on or before November 28, 2011.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instructions: You must
include the agency name and docket number DOT-OST-2011-0182 or the Regulatory
Identification Number (RIN) for the rulemaking at the beginning of your comment.
All comments received will be posted without change to
<a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/site/R?i=oalXIsj3JzQi7P45wE4WNA">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, including
any personal information provided.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Privacy Act: Anyone is
able to search the electronic form of all comments received in any of our
dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the
comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit
<a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/site/R?i=YYPbz1_e1cdnSJ2V92kNJg">http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov</a>.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Docket: For access to the
docket to read background documents or comments received, go to
<a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/site/R?i=dtD14GGI19snsYpcqiO8Dg">http://www.regulations.gov</a> or to the
street address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
docket.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Background
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On November 1, 1996,
the U.S. Department of Transportation amended its regulation implementing
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to create a new section 49 CFR
27.72, concerning regulatory requirements for U.S. airports to ensure the
availability of lifts to provide level-entry boarding for passengers with
disabilities flying on small commuter aircraft. See 61 FR 56409. This
requirement paralleled the lift provisions applicable to U.S. carriers in the
ACAA rule, 14 CFR part 382.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
On May 13, 2008, the Department of Transportation published a final rule that
amended part 382 by making it applicable to foreign air carriers. See 73 FR
27614.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
In addition to making the rule applicable to foreign carriers, the amended part
382 includes provisions that require U.S. and foreign air carriers, in
cooperation with airport operators, to provide animal relief areas for service
animals that accompany passengers departing, connecting, or arriving at U.S.
airports. See 14 CFR 382.51(a)(5).
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Part 382 also requires U.S. and foreign air carriers to enable captioning on all
televisions and other audio-visual displays that are capable of displaying
captioning and that are located in any portion of the airport terminal to which
any passengers have access. See 14 CFR 382.51(a)(6). As a result of the 2008
amendment to part 382, the requirements in part 27 do not mirror the
requirements applicable to airlines set forth in part 382.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
In order to harmonize part 27 with the amended part 382, the Department proposes
to amend part 27 to add such parallel provisions.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The proposed rule would
also update outdated terminology and references that currently exist in 49 CFR
part 27. The proposed rule would change the word ``handicapped,'' and similar
variations of that word that appear throughout part 27, to ``people first''
language (e.g., ``individuals with disabilities'') consistent with practice
under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, the proposed rule would
delete the obsolete reference to the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards in
49 CFR 27.3(b) and change the language ``appendix A to part 37 of this title''
to ``appendices B and D of 36 CFR part 1191, as modified by appendix A to part
37 of this title.''</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
** Service Animal Relief Areas</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The 2008 amendment to
part 382 requires U.S. and foreign air carriers to work with airport operators
to provide service animal relief areas at U.S. airports.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Part 27 does not include a provision that mirrors this requirement.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
As such, the Department proposes to</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
amend part 27 by inserting a provision that would require airport operators to
work with carriers to establish relief areas for service animals that accompany
passengers with disabilities departing, connecting, or arriving at U.S.
airports.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Part 382 does not
provide specific directives regarding the design, number, or location of service
animal relief areas an airport should have; it simply requires carriers to
provide service animal relief areas in cooperation with the airports and in
consultation with service animal training organizations concerning the design of
service animal relief areas.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
However, in a Frequently Asked Questions document issued by the Department's
Aviation Enforcement Office on May 13, 2009, examples of factors airlines and
airports should consider in designating and constructing areas for service
animal relief at U.S. airports are provided.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
\1\ Factors to consider in establishing relief areas include the size and
surface material of the area, maintenance, and distance to relief area which
could vary based on the size and configuration of the airport.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
The Department seeks comment about</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
whether it should adopt requirements regarding the design of service animal
relief areas and what, if any, provisions the rule should include concerning the
dimensions, materials used, and maintenance for relief areas.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
---------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>\1\ The Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) worked with the Department to develop guidelines
identifying key security concerns and concepts that should be factored into the
planning and design of airport facilities, including service animal relief
areas.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
See ``Recommended Security Guidelines for Airport Planning, Design and
Construction,'' revised May 2011, available at
<a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/site/R?i=wLSgP11wN5ULzMb9jXDSYg">
http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/airport_security_design_guidelines.pdf</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
---------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are tentatively
proposing a minimum of one service animal relief area for each terminal in an
airport.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
The Department is aware that requiring only one service animal relief area for
each terminal in an airport may result in individuals with disabilities missing
flights when trying to reach service animal relief areas located outside the
sterile area of an airport, especially inlarger airports.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
For this reason, and despite our tentative recommendation of one relief area for
each terminal in an airport, the Department seeks comment on what would be an
appropriate number of service animal relief areas in an airport.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
In addition to seeking public comment on how many service animal relief areas
should be required at an airport or a terminal, the Department would like to
know how that number should be determined. For example, should the number be
determined by the size or configuration of the airport (e.g., the number,
location and design of terminals and concourses) and/or the amount of time it
would take for an individual with a disability to reach a service animal relief
area from any gate within the airport? Or should DOT establish a performance
requirement that a passenger arriving at any gate with his or her service animal
be able to reach a relief area in 10, 20 or some other number of minutes?</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Department also
seeks comment on the placement of service animal relief areas, particularly
whether service animal relief areas should be located inside or outside the
sterile \2\ area of an airport.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
It could be important to have relief areas both inside and outside the sterile
area of an airport to ensure that individuals with service animals have access
to such areas when traveling. For example, an individual traveling with a
service animal could arrive at Gate C3 and have an hour to make a connection to
a flight at Gate G17. If the individual must leave the sterile area to find a
service animal relief area, travel to and from that area, and then go back
through security screening, the individual could have difficulty in making the
connecting flight. At the same time, we understand that some airports have
expressed security and logistical concerns about the placement of service animal
relief areas inside the sterile area of an airport.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
The Department also recognizes that the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) in May 2011 revised its guidelines ``Recommended Security Guidelines for
Airport Planning, Design and Construction,'' to make clear that airports may
provide Service Animal Relief Areas in sterile areas of the airport, or may
provide escorted access to non-designated outdoor areas for the purpose of
service animal relief.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
The Department also recognizes that coordination with the TSA via each airport's
site-specific Airport Security Program would need to occur if service animal
relief areas are to be placed inside the sterile area.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Consequently, the Department seeks comment on where airport service animal
relief areas should be located to ensure that the time and distance to access
the service animal relief areas do not create barriers for passengers with
disabilities.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
---------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>\2\ The sterile area is
the area between the TSA passenger screening checkpoint and the aircraft
boarding gates. See 49 CFR 1540.5.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
---------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finally, the Department
has been made aware that some individuals with disabilities, especially, but not
only, individuals who are blind or visually impaired, are experiencing
difficulty in locating service animal relief areas at certain airports. Under
part 382, passengers who request that a carrier provide them with assistance to
an animal relief area should be advised by the carrier of the location of the
animal relief area.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Additionally, if requested, it would be the responsibility of the carrier to
accompany a passenger traveling with a service animal to and from the animal
relief area.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
Nevertheless, we seek comment on</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
whether the rule should include a provision requiring airports to specify the
location of service animal relief areas on airport Web sites, maps and/or
diagrams of the airport, including whether the relief area is located inside or
outside a sterile area.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
We also seek comment on whether airports should be required to provide signage
to assist individuals with disabilities in locating service animal relief areas.</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To the extent that the
Department issues a final rule with requirements for airports to establish
service animal relief areas that are more detailed than the requirements for
U.S. and foreign airports that exist in part 382, the Department believes that
it is beneficial to have the same requirements apply to U.S. and Foreign
airlines.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
As such, we are soliciting comment on</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
whether any requirement that applies to U.S. airports should also be applied to
U.S. and foreign carriers.
</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
For example, if the Department creates a requirement that airports must
establish service animal relief areas inside the sterile area of an airport,
should such a requirement apply to U.S. and foreign air carriers in part 382?</p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We propose that any
final rule that we adopt regarding establishing service animal relief areas take
effect 120 days after its publication in the Federal Register. We believe this
would allow sufficient time for airports to comply with this requirement,
particularly since U.S. and foreign airlines are already working with airports
to establish and maintain service animal relief areas.
</p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">We invite comments on whether 120 days is the
appropriate interval.</span>
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