The California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Secretary’s (CalEPA) policy is to provide fair and equal access to the benefits of a program or activity administered by CalEPA. CalEPA will not tolerate discrimination against any person(s) seeking to participate in, or receive the benefits of, any program or activity offered or conducted by CalEPA. Members of the public who believe they were unlawfully denied full and equal access to a CalEPA program or activity may file a civil rights complaint with CalEPA under this policy. This nondiscrimination policy also applies, to the full extent authorized by law, to entities, including contractors, subcontractors, or grantees that CalEPA utilizes to provide benefits and services to members of the public.

CalEPA’s complete Civil Rights Policy can be accessed at the following link:

• Civil Rights Policy and Discrimination Complaint Process [English]
• Civil Rights Policy and Discrimination Complaint Process [español]

To initiate a complaint, the complainant must complete CalEPA’s Civil Rights Complaint Form, which can be accessed at the following link, and submit to CalEPA’s Civil Rights Officer by email at civilrights@calepa.ca.gov within three years of the alleged discrimination:

• Civil Rights Complaint Form [English]
• Civil Rights Complaint Form [español]

CalEPA will not tolerate retaliation against a complainant or a participant in the complaint process. Anyone who believes that they have been subject to retaliation may file a retaliation complaint with CalEPA following the procedures outlined in CalEPA’s policy.

If you require the Civil Rights Policy or Complaint Form to be made available in an alternate format (i.e., Braille, large print) or another language or for any other questions regarding CalEPA’s Civil Rights Policy and Discrimination Complaint Process, please contact CalEPA’s Civil Rights Officer by email at civilrights@calepa.ca.gov.

CalEPA’s Civil Rights Policy and Discrimination Complaint process are implemented pursuant to:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 5
• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 7
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972
• California Constitution, Article 1, section 31
• California Government Code section 11135 et seq.
• California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 11140 et seq.
• State Contracting Manual, Volume 1, section 4.03
• State Contracting Manual, Volume 2, sections 1403.3, 1508