Civil Rights and DNREC - DNREC
Source: https://dnrec.delaware.gov/environmental-justice/title-vi-dnrec
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:32
Civil Rights and DNREC - DNREC
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The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) takes seriously its responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — a landmark law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin — and other federal legislation that ensures equality and fairness in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
This page is also available
An Kreyòl Ayisyen
and
En Español
.
Environmental Justice at DNREC
The Environmental Justice Office
Community Resources
Data and Information
Public Participation
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 (Pub.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.
As a recipient of federal funding, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is required to comply with the rules, laws, and regulations of Title VI.
In addition, Title VI applies to recipients of federal financial assistance that passes through DNREC in the form of grants, contracts, or subcontracts, as well as federal financial assistance that passes through another State agency to DNREC
DNREC Civil Rights Policy
For More Information Contact:
Katera Moore, PhD
DNREC Civil Rights Coordinator
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-739-9001
DNREC_EJ@delaware.gov
It is the policy of DNREC 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
Title VI requires that DNREC take specific actions to ensure compliance with federal law that includes ensuring that all contractors, sub-contractors, and sub-recipients awarded DNREC funded contracts and grants adhere to Title VI and any related laws, regulations, and rules.
Title VI also requires DNREC to provide free language assistance to limited English proficient (LEP) persons
Language Assistance Services
Language Access Plan
Request Interpretation Services
The department provides free interpretation services, upon request, to help ensure full participation by all communities. DNREC interpretation services are intended to help those with limited English proficiency.
The department can provide:
Oral interpretation of documents
Live interpretation services for meetings and events
Information on DNREC programs in alternate formats or in languages other than English
To ask for help, please submit a request using the
interpretation services request form
, or contact us at
DNREC_EJ@delaware.gov
.
Please be aware that, in some cases, the department will need a bit of lead time. This applies in cases where there are deadlines or specific dates involved.
For interpretation of permit applications, proposed regulations or other matters you want to comment on, please make your request at least ten business days before comments are due.
For live oral interpretation at a DNREC public hearing, meeting or event, please make your request no later than ten business days before the date of the event.
DNREC’s Commitment to Disability Access
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
DNREC provides reasonable modifications and auxiliary aids to persons with disabilities free of cost.
Filing a disability complaint with the United States Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section – 1425 NYAV
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
For additional information on filing a complaint with the U.S. DOJ, see the U.S. DOJ website:
civilrights.justice.gov
Online
The DNREC website is designed to be as accessible as possible, with care taken to avoid barriers that prevent interaction or access to websites by people with disabilities. All pages include a “listen” button that provides quick access to an audio reading of the page. The “Listen” tool also includes text size controls and the ability to use a page mask to help focus on specific parts of the page at a time.
DNREC web pages are designed to facilitate easy understanding and reading by splitting large blocks of text into smaller component parts and adding white space to facilitate screen reading. Images on DNREC pages will have title text, or alternative text, to describe the content of the images in ways that work well with screen readers for those with visual impairment.
Facilities
DNREC prioritizes ADA compliance and makes annual critical infrastructure investments to improve our facilities for public access.
Recreation
The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation aims to enable opportunity for people of all abilities to experience the natural and cultural resources in Delaware State Parks. The Architectural Accessibility Board reviews all capital projects and the division is continuously learning from the community how to make further improvements. Projects meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Additionally, the division’s
Strategic Plan
contains the addition of 75 new accessible amenities to be put in place through 2026. These updates include mobility mats, beach wheelchairs, adaptive kayak launches, paved paths, accessible hunting stands, campsites specifically designed for individuals in wheelchairs and more.
Fishing and Wildlife Area Access
With the use of the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Funds through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has completed projects to improve existing facilities, as well as construct new boat ramps.
For those who love wildlife viewing, there are newly renovated ADA-compliant viewing towers at both the Augustine and Little Creek Wildlife Areas.
Filing a Civil Rights Grievance with DNREC
Grievance Procedures
Grievance Form
DNREC has established a procedure to ensure prompt and fair resolution of discrimination complaints. They may be resolved informally, by agreement of the parties, or formally, through written complaint, investigation and department decision.
Grievances may be filed by an individual or their representative. They must be filed no later than sixty days after the date of the alleged discrimination, unless DNREC grants an extension. The
DNREC Civil Rights Grievance Form
may be submitted by fax, email or postal mail.
The procedure conforms to federal law (40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
The grievance procedure covers all complaints alleging discrimination, not related to employment, due to an individual’s race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), sex, age, or disability or retaliation for exercising rights under applicable non-discrimination laws and regulations in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and other related federal and state civil rights statutes and regulations.
The department maintains
a public log of grievances
that are submitted.
Filing a Title VI Complaint with the US EPA
Anyone who believes that an entity that receives financial assistance from EPA has discriminated against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), sex, disability or age; or has engaged in intimidation or retaliation prohibited by EPA’s nondiscrimination regulation, may file a complaint. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may complain on behalf of another person or group.
This information is from the
Filing a Discrimination Complaint
page of the EPA website.
What Information Must a Complaint Include?
The complaint must be in writing, clearly identify who the sender is, include his or her signature, and must provide EPA with the sender’s contact information.
We also suggest including a phone number and/or an email address for contact
The complaint should identify the entity which allegedly committed the discrimination.
Please note that EPA can only investigate complaints filed against an entity which receives financial assistance from EPA
The complaint must allege discrimination prohibited by one of the laws EPA enforces.
Describe with as much detail as possible why you feel the entity discriminated against you or others on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited-English proficiency); sex; disability; or age; or has engaged in intimidation or retaliation prohibited by EPA’s nondiscrimination regulation
The complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the date of the last act of alleged discrimination.
EPA may consider extending the 180-day time-frame for filing, for good cause shown, under certain circumstances
Where do I send my complaint?
Mail Complaint Information To:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of External Civil Rights
Mail code 2310A
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Email:
Title_VI_Complaints@epa.gov
Fax: (202) 564-3316
Related Topics:
civil rights
,
environmental justice
,
equal rights
,
federal
,
title vi
Office of the Secretary
Division of Air Quality
Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Division of Water
Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Division of Parks and Recreation
Division of Watershed Stewardship
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings
Public Notices
DNREC Regulations
Environmental Justice
Non-Discrimination Notice
DNREC Open Data
FOIA Requests
DNREC Divisions
About DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Contact Us
+
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Divisions
Office of the Secretary
Div. of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Div. of Air Quality
Div. of Water
Div. of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Div. of Fish and Wildlife
Div. of Parks and Recreation
Div. of Watershed Stewardship
About DNREC
DNREC Divisions
Boards and Councils
Vision and Mission
Delaware Coastal Cleanup
Environmental Justice at DNREC
Civil Rights and DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Internships with DNREC
Natural Resources Police
Topics of Interest
Open Data
Online Apps
E-Mail Lists
Coastal Zone Act
Admin. Law
Regulatory Development
Regulations
Environmental Permitting
DNREC Permit Fees
Secretary’s Orders
Public Notices
Public Meetings
Public Hearings
Environmental Appeals Board
Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board
FOIA Requests
DNREC News
Newsroom
Meetings and Events
Outdoor Delaware
Brand and Logo
Social Media
Digital Newsletter
Be the First to Know
Contact Us
DNREC Menu
Listen
Office of the Secretary
Home
Contact Us
Budget & Finance
Environmental Finance Office
Delaware Clean Water Initiative
Water Infrastructure Advisory Council
Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund
Administrative Services
Administrative Law Section
DNREC Regulations
Business Assistance
Regulatory Advisory Service
DNREC FOIA Requests
Communications
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings and Events
Outdoor Delaware Magazine
DNREC Social Media
Digital Newsletter
Brand and Visual Identity: Vibrant Delaware
Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice Office
Environmental Justice at DNREC
Civil Rights and DNREC
Community Resources
Data and Information
Public Participation
Law Enforcement
Delaware Natural Resources Police
Contact Information
Environmental Crimes Unit
Fish and Wildlife Unit
State Park Unit
Police Accountability Committee
Delaware Natural Resources Police 411
Natural Resources Police Recruitment
Employment
Work for DNREC
Internships with DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) takes seriously its responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — a landmark law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin — and other federal legislation that ensures equality and fairness in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
This page is also available
An Kreyòl Ayisyen
and
En Español
.
Environmental Justice at DNREC
The Environmental Justice Office
Community Resources
Data and Information
Public Participation
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 (Pub.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.
As a recipient of federal funding, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is required to comply with the rules, laws, and regulations of Title VI.
In addition, Title VI applies to recipients of federal financial assistance that passes through DNREC in the form of grants, contracts, or subcontracts, as well as federal financial assistance that passes through another State agency to DNREC
DNREC Civil Rights Policy
For More Information Contact:
Katera Moore, PhD
DNREC Civil Rights Coordinator
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-739-9001
DNREC_EJ@delaware.gov
It is the policy of DNREC 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
Title VI requires that DNREC take specific actions to ensure compliance with federal law that includes ensuring that all contractors, sub-contractors, and sub-recipients awarded DNREC funded contracts and grants adhere to Title VI and any related laws, regulations, and rules.
Title VI also requires DNREC to provide free language assistance to limited English proficient (LEP) persons
Language Assistance Services
Language Access Plan
Request Interpretation Services
The department provides free interpretation services, upon request, to help ensure full participation by all communities. DNREC interpretation services are intended to help those with limited English proficiency.
The department can provide:
Oral interpretation of documents
Live interpretation services for meetings and events
Information on DNREC programs in alternate formats or in languages other than English
To ask for help, please submit a request using the
interpretation services request form
, or contact us at
DNREC_EJ@delaware.gov
.
Please be aware that, in some cases, the department will need a bit of lead time. This applies in cases where there are deadlines or specific dates involved.
For interpretation of permit applications, proposed regulations or other matters you want to comment on, please make your request at least ten business days before comments are due.
For live oral interpretation at a DNREC public hearing, meeting or event, please make your request no later than ten business days before the date of the event.
DNREC’s Commitment to Disability Access
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
DNREC provides reasonable modifications and auxiliary aids to persons with disabilities free of cost.
Filing a disability complaint with the United States Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section – 1425 NYAV
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
For additional information on filing a complaint with the U.S. DOJ, see the U.S. DOJ website:
civilrights.justice.gov
Online
The DNREC website is designed to be as accessible as possible, with care taken to avoid barriers that prevent interaction or access to websites by people with disabilities. All pages include a “listen” button that provides quick access to an audio reading of the page. The “Listen” tool also includes text size controls and the ability to use a page mask to help focus on specific parts of the page at a time.
DNREC web pages are designed to facilitate easy understanding and reading by splitting large blocks of text into smaller component parts and adding white space to facilitate screen reading. Images on DNREC pages will have title text, or alternative text, to describe the content of the images in ways that work well with screen readers for those with visual impairment.
Facilities
DNREC prioritizes ADA compliance and makes annual critical infrastructure investments to improve our facilities for public access.
Recreation
The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation aims to enable opportunity for people of all abilities to experience the natural and cultural resources in Delaware State Parks. The Architectural Accessibility Board reviews all capital projects and the division is continuously learning from the community how to make further improvements. Projects meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Additionally, the division’s
Strategic Plan
contains the addition of 75 new accessible amenities to be put in place through 2026. These updates include mobility mats, beach wheelchairs, adaptive kayak launches, paved paths, accessible hunting stands, campsites specifically designed for individuals in wheelchairs and more.
Fishing and Wildlife Area Access
With the use of the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Funds through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has completed projects to improve existing facilities, as well as construct new boat ramps.
For those who love wildlife viewing, there are newly renovated ADA-compliant viewing towers at both the Augustine and Little Creek Wildlife Areas.
Filing a Civil Rights Grievance with DNREC
Grievance Procedures
Grievance Form
DNREC has established a procedure to ensure prompt and fair resolution of discrimination complaints. They may be resolved informally, by agreement of the parties, or formally, through written complaint, investigation and department decision.
Grievances may be filed by an individual or their representative. They must be filed no later than sixty days after the date of the alleged discrimination, unless DNREC grants an extension. The
DNREC Civil Rights Grievance Form
may be submitted by fax, email or postal mail.
The procedure conforms to federal law (40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
The grievance procedure covers all complaints alleging discrimination, not related to employment, due to an individual’s race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), sex, age, or disability or retaliation for exercising rights under applicable non-discrimination laws and regulations in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and other related federal and state civil rights statutes and regulations.
The department maintains
a public log of grievances
that are submitted.
Filing a Title VI Complaint with the US EPA
Anyone who believes that an entity that receives financial assistance from EPA has discriminated against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), sex, disability or age; or has engaged in intimidation or retaliation prohibited by EPA’s nondiscrimination regulation, may file a complaint. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may complain on behalf of another person or group.
This information is from the
Filing a Discrimination Complaint
page of the EPA website.
What Information Must a Complaint Include?
The complaint must be in writing, clearly identify who the sender is, include his or her signature, and must provide EPA with the sender’s contact information.
We also suggest including a phone number and/or an email address for contact
The complaint should identify the entity which allegedly committed the discrimination.
Please note that EPA can only investigate complaints filed against an entity which receives financial assistance from EPA
The complaint must allege discrimination prohibited by one of the laws EPA enforces.
Describe with as much detail as possible why you feel the entity discriminated against you or others on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited-English proficiency); sex; disability; or age; or has engaged in intimidation or retaliation prohibited by EPA’s nondiscrimination regulation
The complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the date of the last act of alleged discrimination.
EPA may consider extending the 180-day time-frame for filing, for good cause shown, under certain circumstances
Where do I send my complaint?
Mail Complaint Information To:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of External Civil Rights
Mail code 2310A
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Email:
Title_VI_Complaints@epa.gov
Fax: (202) 564-3316
Related Topics:
civil rights
,
environmental justice
,
equal rights
,
federal
,
title vi
Office of the Secretary
Division of Air Quality
Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Division of Water
Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Division of Parks and Recreation
Division of Watershed Stewardship
DNREC Newsroom
Public Meetings
Public Notices
DNREC Regulations
Environmental Justice
Non-Discrimination Notice
DNREC Open Data
FOIA Requests
DNREC Divisions
About DNREC
Work for DNREC!
Contact Us
+
Delaware's Government
Delaware's Governor
State Agencies
Elected Officials
General Assembly
Delaware Courts
State Employees
Cities & Towns
Delaware State Code
State Regulations
Business First Steps
Phone Directory
Locations Directory
Public Meetings
Voting & Elections
Transparency
Health Insurance
Tax Center
Personal Income Tax
Privacy Policy
Weather & Travel
Contact Us
Corporations
Franchise Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Withholding Tax
Delaware Topics
Help Center
Mobile Apps
E-mail / Text Alerts
Social Media
Make Text Size Smaler
Reset Text Size
Make Text Size Bigger
Built by the
Government Information Center
©MMXXVI
Delaware.gov
-