[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR7.70]

[Page 144-145]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
 
PART 7_NONDISCRIMINATION IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart C_Discrimination Prohibited on the Basis of Handicap
 
Sec. 7.70  New construction.

    (a) General. New facilities shall be designed and constructed to be 
readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. Alterations to 
existing facilities shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be designed 
and constructed to be readily accessible to and usable by handicapped 
persons.
    (b) Conformance with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. (1) 
Effective as of January 18, 1991, design, construction, or alteration of 
buildings in conformance with sections 3-8 of the Uniform Federal 
Accessibility Standards (USAF) (appendix A to 41 CFR subpart 101-19.6) 
shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section with 
respect to those buildings. Departures from particular technical and 
scoping requirements of UFAS by the use of other methods are permitted 
where substantially equivalent or greater access to and usability of the 
building is provided.
    (2) For purposes of this section, section 4.1.6(1)(g) of UFAS shall 
be interpreted to exempt from the requirements of UFAS only mechanical 
rooms and other spaces that, because of their

[[Page 145]]

intended use, will not require accessibility to the public or 
beneficiaries or result in the employment or residence therein of 
persons with physical handicaps.
    (3) This section does not require recipients to make building 
alterations that have little likelihood of being accomplished without 
removing or altering a load-bearing structural member.

[49 FR 1659, Jan. 12, 1984, as amended at 55 FR 52138, 52142, Dec. 19, 
1990]