DEC 9 1996


XX
XX
XX

Dear Ms. XX      :

        I am responding to your letter regarding the accessibility
of gas stations to people with disabilities. Your letter asks
the Department of Justice to take action to compel companies that
operate gas stations to provide a "full service" option for their
customers. Please excuse our delay in responding.

        The Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing title
III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of disability by places of public
accommodation, including gas stations. The ADA requires existing
gas stations that are not otherwise being altered to remove
architectural barriers to the extent that it is readily
achievable to remove them. The Department of Justice regulation
implementing title III requires such barrier removal to comply
with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Standards) for each
altered element if it is readily achievable.

        If a self-service gas station determines that it is not
readily achievable to redesign gas pumps to enable people with
disabilities to use them, the gas station is not required to make
physical modifications to the gas pumps. However, the gas
station is required to provide its services to individuals with
disabilities through any readily achievable method, such as
providing refueling service upon request to an individual with a
disability at self-service prices. A service station is not
required to provide refueling service to individuals with
disabilities at any time when it is operating exclusively on a
remote control basis with a single cashier. Similarly, the ADA
does not require a self-service gas station to initiate a full-
service operation.

cc: Records, Chrono, Wodatch, Blizard, FOIA
    n:\udd\blizard\drsltrs\gaspumps.ltr


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                                     - 2 -

        Because no Federal civil rights law enforced by this
Division prohibits the operation of gas stations on a self-
service basis, we can take no further action in response to your
request.

                                   Sincerely,

                                John L. Wodatch
                           Disability Rights Section
                            Civil Rights Division

Enclosures

01-04362

(HANDWRITTEN)

ILLEGIBLE Sirs:

My plea is for a full
ILLEGIBLE pump at each station
ILLEGIBLE tho the law says
ILLEGIBLE handicapped person can
ILLEGIBLE service at a self serve
ILLEGIBLE me give you a horse
ILLEGIBLE.
But back to my plea
ILLEGIBLE are those with
ILLEGIBLE in their hands &
ILLEGIBLE hold a pump
ILLEGIBLE. There are some
ILLEGIBLE elderly enough
ILLEGIBLE to want to climb
ILLEGIBLE of the car to service
ILLEGIBLE car.
Also the oil & tires etc
ILLEGIBLE checking for us
ILLEGIBLE & one cannot
ILLEGIBLE a full service
ILLEGIBLE.
It frightens me to get
low on gas & cannot
find a full service
station.
I realize stop & go ILLEGIBLE
stores can't do that ILLEGIBLE
there are gas station
that need to. (Every gas
station)
I do appreciate the
stations that have the
service. Exxon & Chevron
& not all of them do
There are all kinds
activity in the ruling
group to help the
handicapped - why ILLEGIBLE
this problem not ILLEGIBLE
solved.

        Sincerely

        XX
        XX


01-04363