Federal Civil Rights Laws (Including Title VI) and EPA's Non-Discrimination Regulations
- Title VI Law and EPA Non-Discrimination Regulations
- Other Federal Non-Discrimination Laws and Regulations
Title VI Law and EPA Non-Discrimination Regulations
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. §2000d to 2000d-7) (pdf) (13 pp, 23 K) prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency) in their programs or activities. Title VI itself prohibits intentional discrimination.
Under EPA's Title VI implementing regulation found at 40 C.F.R. Part 7 (pdf) (18 pp, 233 K), EPA-funded agencies are prohibited from taking actions, including permitting actions, that are intentionally discriminatory or have a discriminatory effect based on race, color, or national origin.
Title VI discrimination complaints may be filed with the federal agency that provided the financial assistance. EPA's Office of External Civil Rights Compliance (OECRC) is responsible for EPA's enforcement of Title VI. All Title VI administrative complaints are processed and investigated by OECRC.
Other Federal Non-Discrimination Laws and EPA's Non-Discrimination Regulations
In addition to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, EPA's ECRCO has the responsibility for enforcing other external federal civil rights statutes, including:
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disabilities in federally-assisted programs or activities;
- Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-assisted education programs or activities (also see 40 C.F.R. Part 5 - Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance (18 pp, 259 K));
- Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in federally-assisted programs or activities; and
- Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in programs or activities receiving financial assistance under the Clean Water Act.