The NDDEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, or status with respect to marriage or public assistance in the administration of its programs or activities, and the NDDEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group for the purpose of interfering with such rights because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7.
The NDDEQ's Nondiscrimination Coordinator is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning nondiscrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 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 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal nondiscrimination laws); and other applicable state and federal laws.
If you have any questions about this notice or any of the NDDEQ’s nondiscrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:
Ann Fritz, Nondiscrimination Coordinator
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality
4201 Normandy St.
Bismarck, ND 58503-1324
(701) 328-5150
deqEJ@nd.gov
If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to an NDDEQ program or activity, you may contact the Nondiscrimination Coordinator or file a complaint of discrimination as outlined in the Civil Rights Complaint Form, SFN 62454.
Política de no discriminación
El Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Dakota del Norte (NDDEQ, por sus siglas en inglés) considerará cada solicitud de adaptación razonable para proporcionar un lugar para reuniones accesible u otra adaptación para personas con discapacidades, interpretación de idiomas para personas con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés) y traducciones de material escrito necesario para acceder a programas e información. Los servicios de asistencia lingüística están disponibles de forma gratuita. Para solicitar adaptaciones, comuníquese con la coordinadora de no discriminación del Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Dakota del Norte (NDDEQ) al 701-328-5150 o por correo electrónico a deqEJ@nd.gov. Los usuarios de TTY pueden utilizar Relay North Dakota llamando al 711 o al 1-800-366-6888
Language Access
Free language assistance
If you speak a non-English language, we offer language assistance services free of charge. Call the Nondiscrimination Coordinator at (701) 328-5150 or email deqEJ@nd.gov
Language Access Plan
North Dakota is home to people of different cultures, ethnicities, races and backgrounds. Language should not be a barrier to engagement and participation in the NDDEQ’s programs, services and activities. The NDDEQ’s Language Access Plan reflects our commitment to serving North Dakotans of all cultures and backgrounds, including persons with limited English proficiency.
NDDEQ Language Access Plan (PDF).
Disability Access
The NDDEQ provides reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis, such as qualified sign language interpreters or written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, etc.), when needed to communicate effectively with persons with disabilities. If you need these services, please contact the Nondiscrimination Coordinator at 701-328-5150, TTY 711 or 1-800-366-6888 to discuss what aid or service is appropriate.
NDDEQ Disability Access Plan (PDF).
Grievance Procedures
The following options are available to you if you have concerns or complaints about services provided by the NDDEQ or NDDEQ’s practices or activities.
Informal Complaint
The NDDEQ encourages anyone with concerns about potential failure to provide services or discrimination in providing services to first discuss the matter with the NDDEQ’s Nondiscrimination Coordinator. Individuals are not required to pursue the informal process first and may begin the formal complaint (grievance) process as their first step if preferred.
The purpose of the informal complaint process is to make a good faith effort to resolve the issue quickly and efficiently. However, the individual may ask to implement the formal process at any time during the informal resolution. If you have concerns about services provided by the NDDEQ or NDDEQ practices, or if you would like to relay your experiences to the NDDEQ without making a formal complaint, please contact Ann Fritz at (701) 328-5150 or deqEJ@nd.gov.
Formal Complaint (Grievance) Procedures
If you believe that the NDDEQ has failed to provide services or discriminated in another way based on race, color, national origin (including language), disability, sex, age, or status with respect to marriage or public assistance, you can file a grievance, in person, by mail or email with Ann Fritz, (701) 328-5162 or deqEJ@nd.gov. The Grievance Procedure provides a process for filing a timely formal complaint to the proper authority at the NDDEQ and describes the process that will be used to investigate and resolve the complaint. The procedures do not apply to administrative actions that are being pursued in another forum.
If you would like to file a complaint, you may complete and return the fillable Grievance Form. Further instructions are on the form. If you have questions contact the Nondiscrimination Coordinator via the information listed above.
The grievance process also applies to subrecipients of federal funding; formal grievances may be submitted to the NDDEQ related to subrecipients of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding. Formal grievances related to other subrecipients of federal funding may be submitted to federal agencies directly; please contact the nondiscrimination coordinator for more information.
If you would prefer to file a complaint about the NDDEQ or the NDDEQ’s practices directly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, you may do so by mailing a written complaint to
US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of External Civil Rights
Mail code 2310A
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Fax: (202) 565-0196
Title_VI_Complaints@epa.gov
More information about filing a discrimination complaint against a recipient of EPA funds is on
EPA’s External Civil Rights website.
NDDEQ Complaint of Discrimination (Grievance) Procedures (PDF)
Fillable Civil Rights Complaint Form (SFN 62454) (PDF)
Queja Por Derechos Civiles (SFN 62454 en Espanol) (PDF)
