Environmental Justice

• Goal
• Background
• Strategies
• Provide Comment

Goal

To place a greater focus on prevention of discrimination and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and to promote meaningful dialogue and seek input to improve efficiencies in Title VI compliance.

Read the draft implementation plan on Title VI (PDF) (11 pp, 647K, About PDF).

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Background

EPA has made improving its civil rights program a priority. The Agency recognizes that its enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and other nondiscrimination statutes are important tools in EPA’s efforts to address discrimination and advance environmental justice.

EPA implements the following statutes, which together prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, and age:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
• Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, Section 13
• Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975

EPA’s regulation at 40 C.F.R. Part 7, entitled Nondiscrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from EPA (PDF) (11 pp, 40K) includes general and specific prohibitions against intentional and unintentional (i.e., disparate effects) discrimination by EPA’s assistance recipients on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap. Every EPA grant recipient, including each state environmental agency receiving financial assistance from EPA, is subject to the terms of 40 C.F.R. Part 7.

This supplement to Plan EJ 2014 sets forth goals, strategies, and activities that will assist in building a robust Title VI civil rights program.

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Strategies

1. Establish a robust Title VI pre-award and post-award compliance program.
   
   
2. Strengthen Title VI in EPA’s National Program Management guidance, performance partnership agreements and performance partnership grants.
   
   
3. Partner with other federal agencies to improve and strengthen compliance with Title VI.
   
   
4. Advance EJ goals through Limited English Proficiency initiatives.

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Provide Comment

The public comment period for the Draft Supplemental Plan: Title VI Advancing Environmental Justice Through Title VI of the Civil Rights Act is now closed. Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this Agency effort by sharing your comments on the draft supplemental plan.

EPA is currently reviewing all public comments received from April 16 through July 19. We will finalize the Title VI supplemental plan after considering these comments. We anticipate posting the Agency's responses to these comments at the appropriate time.