Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Environmental Justice

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

"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."

“Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination”. -John F. Kennedy

Executive Order 12898

Federal Actions to address Environmental Justice in Minority
Populations and Low-Income Populations

What is Environmental Justice?

There are three fundamental environmental justice principles:

To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.

To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.

To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.

Is Environmental Justice a new requirement?

No. The recipients of Federal-aid have been required to certify and the U.S. DOT must ensure nondiscrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and many other laws, regulations, and policies. In 1997, the Department issued its DOT Order to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations to summarize and expand upon the requirements of Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice.

Executive Order 13166

Improving Access to Services for Persons with
Limited English Proficiency

The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them.

The Civil Rights office is in the process of recruiting translators for our LEP program. Please contact the Civil Rights Office, 907-269-0851, for further information.

ADOT/PF Title VI Areas of Reporting

NHI Training Administration
Program Development/Planning
Preliminary Environmental and Design
Contracting
Right-of-Way
Construction
Maintenance and Operations
Sub-recipients (i.e. metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, universities etc.)
Research
Alaska Marine Highway System

Title VI Links

US Department of Justice Civil Rights Office
Alaska Human Rights Commission
NW & Alaska Tribal Technical Assistance Program