Title VI Compliance

It is the policy of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that: No person shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other related nondiscrimination laws and requirements.

What is Title VI?

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d) provides that, “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” The 1987 Civil Rights Restoration Act (P.L. 100-259) expanded the definition of “programs and activities” to include all programs and activities of federal aid recipients, sub-recipients and contractors, whether such programs and activities are federally assisted or not. 

Related nondiscrimination authorities include, but are not limited to: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

As a recipient of federal funding, DEQ is required to comply with the rules, laws and regulations of Title VI. Title VI also applies to recipients of federal financial assistance that passes through DEQ in the form of grants, contracts or subcontracts, as well as federal financial assistance that passes through another State agency to NCDEQ.

DEQ’s compliance with Title VI is contingent upon its employees’ and contractors’, sub-contractors’ and sub-recipients’ (of DEQ funded contracts and grants) adherence to Title VI and all applicable laws, regulations and rules.

Title VI requires that DEQ take the following actions to ensure the department’s compliance with federal law:

• Ensuring that all contractors, sub-contractors, and sub-recipients awarded DEQ funded contracts and grants adhere to Title VI and all applicable laws, regulations and rules.
• Provision of free language assistance to limited English proficient (LEP) persons; and
• Inclusion of statement of assurances of Title VI compliance in all procurement and grant contracts.

NCDEQ is committed to ensuring all management staff, contractors and service beneficiaries are aware of the provisions of and responsibilities associated with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Links:

• Title VI Policy Statement (revised 10/2021)
• Título VI Declaración de la Política (revised 11/2021)
• Title VI Brochure
• Título VI Folleto
• Title VI Poster 
• Título VI Poster 
• Title VI Complaint Process (revised 9/2021)
• Título VI Procedimiento para Denunciar (revised 9/2021)
• Title VI Complaint Form
• Título VI Planilla para Denunciar

Recent Actions:

• N.C. Anonymous Comment Tool (May 2020)
• Public Participation Plan and Limited English Proficiency Plan (February 2020)
• Settlement Agreement - May 3, 2018
• Title VI Report: Increasing Equity, Transparency, and Environmental Protection in the Permitting of Swine Operations in North Carolina, May 2020
  • Attachment A: Settlement Agreement between NCDEQ and the Citizen Groups
  • Attachment B: 2019 Swine General Permit
  • Attachment C: Updated Odor Control Checklist
  • Attachment D: Complaint Response Standard Operating Procedure
  • Attachment E: Violations Point System Rule – Initial Draft
  • Attachment F: Duplin County Air Monitoring Study Report
  • Attachment G: Cape Fear River Animal Feeding Operations Monitoring Study: Preliminary Report
  • Attachment H: Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
  • Attachment I: Title VI Complaint Procedures
  • Attachment J:  Public Participation Plan
  • Attachment K: Limited English Proficiency Language Access Plan
  • Attachment L: Community Mapping System and Environmental Justice Tool 1.0 Document
  • Attachment M: Community Analysis Document
• Title VI complaint regarding Issuance of Permit Nos. AWI310035, AWI301139, AWI230466, and AWS820005 (September 27, 2021)
  • EPA acceptance of Administrative Complaint No. 05RNO-21-R4 (January 13, 2022)
  • DEQ response to EPA Complaint No. 05RNO-21-R4 (February 14, 2022)

Contact:

Corey Williams
NCDEQ Title VI Coordinator
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1646
ej@deq.nc.gov