LAMBERT LAN CO.,INC. 700 FELICITY, BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS 39520 (601)467-9257 FAX (601)467-7998 (800)729-9257 BAY COVE November 14, 1991 Mr. John Wodatch Office of Americans with Disabilities Act Civil Rights Division U. S. Department of Justice VIA FAX: 202-307-0595 P. 0. Box 66118 Washington, DC 20035-6118 Dear Mr. Wodatch: Please send us the applicable regulations and requirements of the Act which apply to U. S. registered ships operating in the United States. We are currently in a very crucial phase of a project to refit an old ship. Also could you please answers the following specific questions: 1. Are the-standards/requirements different for ships built before January 26, 1992 and after that date? 2. Our ship was built in the late 1970's. Would it have to meet the newer standards if the refit is completed before January 26, 1992? What if it is completed after the effective date? 3. This ship does not have an elevator. It is cost- prohibitive to Install an elevator (over $250,000) Is there any other way that is feasible to enable access to all areas? 4. U. S. Coast Guard requires raised-thresholds for external doorways. We understand that U. S. C. G. believes that ramping on either side defeats the intended reasoning for raised thresholds: water- tight compartmentalization and flood control. How can this be handled? 5. Is access to all decks and spaces by the disabled required by the Act? 6. Do foreign-flagged vessels trading in the U. S., such as the ships in Florida, also come under the Act? BAY COVE HARBOUR DOCKSIDE CASINO 01-02345 (handwritten) 202-PL-00102 Page 2 November 14, 1991 7. If a vessel is used in a semi-permanently moored mode(operated at a pier) does that make a difference in application of the Act with regard to U. S. regis- tered vessels. 8. If a ship is operated at a pier (i.e. does not cruise), can the access requirements of the Act be satisfied by building multiple ramped gangways on land by which the disabled can access each deck? If so, would this relieve the business from the responsibility to provide internal access to each deck? We would appreciate an expeditious reply to these questions, as we were currently suspending the completion of the refit work until we know what the Act requires in the various ship related situations. Sincerely, Len Krick General Manager LK:sl 01-02346