About DTSC

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Civil Rights Language Access

Introduction

DTSC worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop the DTSC Civil Rights and Language Access policies. In addition, DTSC created a Civil Rights and Language Access Implementation Plan to show how the policies would be implemented in the Department.

The Title VI Civil Rights and California Civil Rights Policy ensures that DTSC carries out all its duties and responsibilities in a non-discriminatory manner that complies with federal and state civil rights laws. The policy details the process for which to file a Civil Rights complaint with DTSC. The policy includes step-by-step instructions on filing as well as the Civil Rights Complaint form. The DTSC Civil Rights and Language Access Implementation Plan further details the complaint process.

The Language Access Policy ensures that DTSC carries out its commitment to early, equal, and meaningful access to critical DTSC programs, services, activities, and information to persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). It further ensures DTSC’s compliance with federal and state civil rights laws. The policy details the process for which DTSC will implement the policy through program-and service specific language access plans in conjunction with the DTSC Civil Rights and Language Access Implementation Plan which is currently in draft form.

DTSC developed the Civil Rights and Language Access Implementation Plan to guide DTSC’s implementation of its Title VI Civil Rights and California Civil Rights and Language Access Policies. This Implementation Plan includes a discussion of the key program areas where public access to decision making is central to the function of the program. For these key program areas, the Implementation Plan provides specific steps and actions that DTSC will take to implement Title VI Civil Rights and California Civil Rights Policy and Language Access Policy.

Policy Development Background

In August 2016, DTSC and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) reached a civil rights complaint agreement with Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice (Greenaction) and El Pueblo/People for Clean Air and Water of Kettleman City (El Pueblo) regarding a 2014 permit expansion approval for Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Landfill. As one of the terms of the agreement, DTSC developed the Title VI Civil Rights and California Civil Rights Policy and Language Access Policy, as well as the Civil Rights Implementation Plan, to guide DTSC’s Civil Rights program.

For more information on the development of the Policies and Implementation Plan please go to our Background and Timeline page.