What is Title VI? Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says, ”No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity whether federally funded or non-federally funded receiving financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d  The purpose of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is to prohibit programs which receive federal funds from discriminating against participants or clients on the basis of race, color or national origin. The intent of the law is to insure that all persons, regardless of their race, color or national origin, are allowed to participate in these federally funded programs.  What is Environmental Justice? Executive Order 12898 includes the following two fundamental principles of environmental justice: To ensure the public involvement includes low-income and minority groups in decision-making, and To prevent disproportionately high and adverse impacts of decisions on low income and minority groups.  In general, this means that for any program or activity for which any federal funds will be used, the agency receiving the federal funds (including states, cities and MPO's) must: Make a meaningful effort to involve low-income and minority populations in the processes established to make the decision about the use of the federal funds, and Evaluate the nature, extent, and incidence of adverse human health or environmental impacts of the program or activity upon minority or the underserved population areas in the County.
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