CDPHE’S Commitment to Public Participation and Public Participation Procedures

Public Participation Laws

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) abides by the Colorado Administrative Procedures Act and federal and state environmental and public health laws in providing members of the public with an opportunity to participate in CDPHE decision-making processes. 

We also abide by federal and state nondiscrimination laws in providing members of the public access to important information and documents, as well as access to public hearings and engagement meetings. Relevant laws include, but may not be limited to:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• The 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.
• Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. § 18116.
• Regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 80, 84, and 91 and Title 28 CFR Part 35.
• Regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7.
• Regulations of the State of Colorado issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 24 Colorado Revised Statutes Parts 4, 6, 8 and 34 and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.
• Colorado House House Bill 21-1110

CDPHE’s Commitment to Providing Meaningful Access to the Public

As outlined in CDPHE Policy 9.8, CDPHE will take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services for people and communities with limited English proficiency. CDPHE will also take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services for people with disabilities, as required by federal law and state law (House Bill 21-1110).

Individuals with Limited English Proficiency

Individuals with limited English proficiency are entitled to equal opportunity and meaningful access to programs, activities, services, and other CDPHE benefits. To effectively meet the needs of such individuals, CDPHE has adopted a centralized model to readily provide staff access to professional interpretation and translation services. The purpose of this model is to help promote health equity and environmental justice by providing meaningful access to programs and services for people with limited English proficiency by:

• Reducing the language barrier.
• Improving customer service.
• Creating greater efficiencies for department staff to allow staff to more effectively serve the public in a timely manner.
• Providing higher-quality communications for linguistically diverse audiences.

People with Disabilities

CDPHE will also provide auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities when needed to ensure equal opportunity and meaningful access to CDPHE’s programs, services, and activities. Examples of aids and services include, but are not limited to, qualified sign language interpreters, written information in other formats, foreign language interpreters, and information translated into other languages. CDPHE will provide aids and services in a timely manner and free of charge.

Requesting Translation, Auxiliary Aids, or Other Accommodations

To request aids and services, please contact:

Nondiscrimination Coordinator
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South.
Denver, Colorado 80246
Telephone: 303-692-2102
State Relay: 711
Email: cdphe_nondiscrimination@state.co.us

CDPHE’s Commitment to Meaningful Public Engagement

In the decision-making process of issuing environmental permits, CDPHE typically engages in the following public outreach activities:

• Public notice of permitting action to ensure the impacted community and interested parties are aware of the permitting action, which may be translated into languages other than English, depending on where the facility seeking the permit is located.
• Opportunity to provide written comments on the draft permit.
• Agency response to written comments on the draft permit.
• Opportunity to request a hearing or opportunity for verbal comments. 

In the decision-making process of proposing regulations or revisions to regulations, CDPHE typically engages in the following public outreach activities:

• Stakeholder processes led by agency staff with interested parties leading up to issuing a proposed regulation to obtain early feedback.
• Formal public involvement proceedings within the rulemaking allowing interested persons to seek party status (authorization to officially participate in the rulemaking), provide written filings, and provide verbal testimony to the relevant board or commission.
• Opportunities for other members of the public who do not seek party status to provide written and oral comment to the relevant board or commission. 

In both permitting and rulemaking engagement, if CDPHE holds an in-person public hearing, or other public meeting to discuss a proposed action expected to impact a particular community, CDPHE will hold that hearing or meeting in or near the community expected to be impacted. This ensures members of the public have an opportunity to provide input. CDPHE will also continue to provide online forums for public engagement in decision-making processes.

Active Public Participation Opportunities

Below, you will find currently active opportunities to participate in CDPHE decision-making processes:

• Water Quality Permitting Actions
• Water Quality Rulemakings
• Water & Wastewater Facility Operators Control Board Rulemakings
• Air Permitting Actions
• Air Quality Rulemakings
• Air Quality Enterprise Board
• Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Public Notices 
• Radiation Stakeholder Processes & Rulemakings
• Solid Waste Stakeholder Processes & Rulemakings
• Hazardous Materials Stakeholder Processes & Rulemakings 
• Recycling Grants
• Environmental Justice Advisory Board & Environmental Justice Action Task Force
• Board of Health
• Health Equity Commission
• Colorado Alliance for HIV Prevention Care and Treatment
• Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Grant Program
• State Drug Assistance Program
• Tobacco Grant Program Review Committee
• Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Chronic Pulmonary Disease Grants Program Review Committee
• Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Public Meetings Information

CDPHE Contact Information

For more information, or to get in touch with CDPHE programs, please find CDPHE contact information below: