Nondiscrimination policy and resources

I. Nondiscrimination policy statement

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws and does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, or disability in employment, admission or access to, treatment or participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs, services and activities, whether carried out by the department directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which it arranges to carry out its programs, services and activities. CDPHE does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

This statement is in accordance with the provisions of: 

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin. This law applies to entities receiving federal financial assistance; 
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law protecting qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination. This law applies to entities receiving federal financial assistance; 
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a federal law protecting qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination. This law applies to all state and local government agencies; 
• The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, a federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age. This law applies to entities receiving federal financial assistance; 
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a federal law that prohibits sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance; 
• Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination by any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance under this Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or the Environmental Financing Act; 
• Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. § 18116, a civil rights provision of ACA which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. This law applies to entities receiving federal financial assistance;
• 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 Agency issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7; and
• Regulations of the State of Colorado issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 24, Article 34 Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS), Parts 4, 6, and 8 including the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. 

II. Requesting auxiliary aids and services

CDPHE provides auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities, and language services to individuals whose first language is not English, when needed to ensure equal opportunity and meaningful access to CDPHE’s programs, services and activities, as well as eligibility, enrollment and benefit information. 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.

For more information, please see this summary of CDPHE’s policy regarding communications with people with limited English proficiency. The Point to Your Language tool can be used to assist with language identification.

CDPHE’s Nondiscrimination Coordinator is responsible for responding to inquiries about nondiscrimination requirements for the EPA’s nondiscrimination regulations at 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (collectively “the federal nondiscrimination laws”).  If you need auxiliary aids or services, or if you have any questions about these laws or this policy, you may contact:

III. Public participation

Learn about how you can participate in CDPHE’s decisions, and how CDPHE works to prevent discrimination in public participation opportunities.

IV. Complaints

State complaints 

CDPHE’s Nondiscrimination Coordinator is responsible for the review and investigation of discrimination complaints that CDPHE receives.

If an individual believes discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation has occurred, a complaint may be filed with CDPHE’s Nondiscrimination Coordinator by filling out and returning the PDF form. If needed, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator is available to help file the complaint. Learn more about CDPHE’s complaint procedures.

Federal complaints

Civil rights complaints about CDPHE’s health-related programs can also be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights as follows:

• Electronic filing: HHS Complaint Portal
• Mail: 1961 Stout Street Room 08-148 Denver, CO 80294 
• Telephone: 800-368-1019 
• Fax: 202-619-3818 
• TDD: 800-537-7697 

Learn more about filing a civil rights complaint on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' website.

Civil rights complaints about CDPHE’s environmental-related programs may be filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s External Civil Rights Compliance Office as follows: 

• Mail: mail code 2310A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460 
• Fax: (202) 565-0196 
• Email: Title_VI_Complaints@epa.gov 

Learn more about how to file a complaint with EPA.