Implementation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 

NOTE TO SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS:  Please ensure all employees without 
access to e-mail receive a copy of this message. 

                             MEMORANDUM 

                                           May 25, 2001 

To:        All U.S. Geological Survey Employees 

From:      Chip Groat  /s/ Chip Groat 
                Director 

Subject:  Implementation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, becomes effective June 
21, 2001.  The goal of this amendment is to eliminate barriers that people 
with disabilities encounter when using electronic and information 
technology by creating technical standards and procurement regulations 
that will allow comparable access for everyone.   

By June 21, 2001, all Federal agencies must ensure that they are in 
compliance with Section 508.  Section 508 requires that all electronic and 
information technology developed, procured, maintained, and used by any 
Federal agency be accessible to everyone seeking information, unless there 
is an undue burden in doing that.   

If an undue burden has been determined, it is still the responsibility of 
the bureau to provide alternative access to the information.  Under the 
law, individuals will have the right to file a civil lawsuit against an 
agency that is noncompliant. 

There are standards associated with information technology and the 
dissemination of information.  The standards pertain to computers, 
software, Web-based applications, telecommunications products, and 
electronic office equipment.  The newly revised Federal Acquisition 
Regulations (FAR) stipulate that requirements for accessibility be built 
into all electronic information technology procurements.  The 508 
standards and FAR are available at http://www.section508.gov and 
http://www.access-board.gov.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Section 
508 page is available at http://www.usgs.gov:8888/ops/IRM/section508.  The 
USGS Web guidelines are available at 
http://www.usgs.gov:8888/guidelines/usgs.webguide.html#access. 
The USGS is taking aggressive measures to work towards compliance with 
Section 508 and has created a bureauwide Section 508 team, which is 
chaired by Carol Aten and co-chaired by      Amy Berger.  With the 
cooperation and willingness of all of our employees and managers to build 
the technical standards and procurement requirements into our daily 
business practices, we can be confident all of our scientific information 
can and will be available to everyone. 

In support of our mission "Science for a Changing World," the USGS proudly 
joins with the rest of Federal Government's corporate management in 
committing to support full implementation of the Section 508 requirements.