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Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE
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Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 & Environmental Justice

Alaska DOT&PF Title VI and ADA Coordinator

Robespierre Howard
Title VI and ADA Coordinator
Alaska Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Office
2200 E. 42nd Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone (voice):  (907) 269-0852
Phone (TTY): 711 for Alaska Relay
Fax: 907-269-0847 
Email: robespierre.howard@alaska.gov

Goals & Accomplishments 2023

ADA & Title VI Policies (English & Translated)

Title VI Program Plan

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

"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."

“Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination”. -John F. Kennedy

Executive Order 12898

What is Environmental Justice?

There are three fundamental environmental justice principles:

  • To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.
  • To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.
  • To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.

Is Environmental Justice a new requirement?

No. The recipients of Federal-aid have been required to certify and the U.S. DOT must ensure nondiscrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and many other laws, regulations, and policies. In June 2012, FHWA issued its DOT Order to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations to summarize and expand upon the requirements of Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice. This directive canceled FHWA Order 6640.23, dated December 2, 1998.

Executive Order 13166

The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them.

The Civil Rights office is in the process of recruiting translators for our LEP program. Please contact the Civil Rights Office, 907-269-0851, for further information.

Alaska DOT/PF Title VI Areas of Reporting

  • Planning
  • Preliminary Design & Environmental
  • Contracting
  • Right-of-Way
  • Construction
  • Maintenance and Operations
  • Sub-recipients (i.e. metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, universities etc.)
  • Research
  • Alaska Marine Highway System

Rescinded Title VI documents not to be used or referenced

The following policy and guidance documents have been rescinded as of April 25, 2019 and should no longer be used.

  • Title VI:  Nondiscrimination in the Federal Aid Highway Program Handbook – Publication:  FHWA-HCR-06-006
  • Title VI:  Nondiscrimination in the Federal Aid Highway Program Desk Reference – Publication: FHWA-HCR-07-0001
  • Limited English Proficiency Program and the Federal-Aid Highway Program Handbook – Publication:  FHWA-HCR-07-0010
  • Title VI Considerations in the Major Federal-aid Highway Programs – Publication:  Unknown
  • Your rights Under Title VI of the Civil Rights of 1964 brochure – Publication:  FHWA-HCR-06-003
  • Preventing Discrimination in the Federal Aid Program: Systematic Interdisciplinary Approach Reference Notebook – Publication: Unknown
  • March 22, 2006 Memorandum on Processing Complaints filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Impacts of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 on FHWA programs, September 2, 1992, Classifications Code N 4720.6 – superseded by 49 CFR 21.23(e) September 2002
  • All Title VI processes and procedures included in the procedures Manual for Processing External Complaints of Discrimination, Federal Highway Administration, July 9, 2010

Title VI Links