Civil Rights and Nondiscrimination

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Title VI program ensures no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NHDES on the basis of race, color, or national origin. In addition, NHDES does not discriminate based on age, sex, marital status, religion, gender identity or gender expression, income, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, status as a veteran or any other legally prohibited basis. NHDES staff, applicants for, and recipients of, EPA assistance are expected to uphold these protections. To this end, NHDES has adopted this Civil Rights and Nondiscrimination Implementation Plan to ensure proper nondiscrimination measures are implemented and monitored.

Commissioner's Statement on Civil Rights and Nondiscrimination

NHDES is committed to ensuring equal participation in all projects, programs, and activities regardless of federal funding. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, requires that no person shall be discriminated against, denied the benefit of, or excluded from participation in any program due to race, color, or national origin. In addition, NHDES ensures equal participation regardless of age, sex, marital status, religion, gender identity or gender expression, income, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, status as a veteran, or any other legally prohibited basis.

As the Commissioner, I am responsible for working with the Civil Rights Coordinator and ensuring that they have the sufficient authority to implement the Civil Rights and Nondiscrimination Plan. I have appointed the Legal Unit Administrator as the Civil Rights Coordinator to manage and ensure the required Title VI program measures are fulfilled.

While the Civil Rights Coordinator is responsible for the management of the Plan, it is the duty of all NHDES employees, contractors, and grant or loan recipients to incorporate the requirements of this Plan into their work in order to comply with federal law.

Title VI is not only the law; it is fundamental to the success of NHDES. All NHDES employees, contractors, and grant or loan recipients are expected to uphold and implement the requirements of this Plan.