Contact: Mary Lamielle, Executive Director
National Center for Environmental Health Strategies, Inc.
1100 Rural Avenue
Voorhees, NJ 08043
(856) 429-5358
marylamielle@ncehs.org

VOORHEES, NJ; July 31, 2000 -- On Wednesday, July 26, the board added a 19th project, an MCS Feasibility Study, for FY2001 to the list of projects under consideration. Several board members offered the proposal with great support and enthusiasm.

During the balance of the week it became obvious that we would be competing against the 18 other projects under consideration. It was also obvious that many, perhaps the majority, of board members are at least indifferent if not opposed to such action.

We have until September 11-12, the next board meeting, to convince board and staff that a feasibility study on MCS should be funded for FY2001. This is far from a done deal. I expect to attend the board meeting.

It is also apparent the MCS will not be added to the current rulemaking. On Thursday July 27, at a public forum sponsored by the Access Board, the only opportunity a nonboard member had to speak, I recommended at minimum that MCS be addressed in the Preamble to the rulemaking as follows.

Add prominent and clear language to the Proposed Rule that acknowledges that those with MCS are a disabled population, protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with access requirements that may not be covered fully under the proposed rules.

Add: "Those disabled by multiple chemical sensitivities are covered by this regulation although specific guidelines to define the complete access requirements of those with MCS have not yet been promulgated. The U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board hereby goes on record as supporting, in principle if not yet in detail, all efforts to enable access by people with this and related disabilities."

This language was recommended by Mary Lamielle, Susan Molloy, and Dr. Ann McCampbell in comments to the Access Board in response to Docket No. 99-1, May 15, 2000.

Susan Molloy, who addressed the board with great passion and enthusiasm, and Mary Lamielle attended the Forum. Ann McCampbell, Jennifer Price, and Toni Temple participated by teleconference.

For more information, please contact Mary Lamielle at NCEHS.
marylamielle@ncehs.org