Title VI Civil Rights

NDEP is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program, activity or service that it provides on the basis of race, color, national origin, or on the basis of gender or disability, or on the basis of age, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 7, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. NDEP will not tolerate intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against any individual or group.

Title VI: Nondiscrimination Program

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the main legal authority for NDEP's external nondiscrimination programs. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Once an agency accepts federal funds, all of its programs and activities are covered, regardless of their funding source.

What Does This Mean?

NDEP cannot, on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability or income status either directly or through contractual means:

Deny program services, aids or benefits.
Provide a different service, aid or benefit, or provide them in a manner different from what is provided to others.
Segregate or separately treat individuals in any matter related to the receipt of any service, aid or benefit.
Deny an opportunity to participate as a member of a planning, advisory or similar body that is an integral part of the program.

Any federal financial aid subrecipient, such as a metropolitan-planning organization, local government or grantee, is required to administer its program and activities without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or limited English proficiency.

How Is Title VI Enforced?

Conducting internal and external compliance reviews.
Developing Title VI Program Implementation training for staff, suppliers, vendors, contractors, local governments and other NDEP subrecipients of federal funds.
Developing Title VI compliance information for internal and external dissemination.
Processing the disposition of Title VI complaints received by NDEP.
Developing technical support to subrecipients developing their Title VI Program.

Download Title VI Civil Rights Policy and Grievance Procedures document

Download Civil Rights Complaint Form

Descargar Título VI Politica de Derechos Civiles y Procedimientos de Quejas (en Español)

Descargar el Formulario de Queja de Derechos Civiles (en Español)