The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program, activity or service that it provides on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other protected status, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 7, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. MDE will not tolerate intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against any individual or group.​

As a recipient of federal funding, MDE is required to comply with federal nondiscrimination laws. MDE's compliance extends to federal regulations, including:

 

• Department of Homeland Security: Title 6 Code of Federal Regulations Part 17 and Part 21
• Department of Agriculture: Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations Part 15, Part 15a, Part 15b, Part 15c
  
• Department of Defense: Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations Part 56, Part 195, and Part 196
• Environmental Protection Agency: Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 5 and Part 7
• Department of Interior: Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations Part 17, and Part 41
• Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency): Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 7 and Part 19
• Department of Transportation: Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 21, Part 25, and Part 27
  

 

MDE's Nondiscrimination Coordinator can be reached as follows:

Assata N. Peterson, Director
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 537-3152
Email: assata.peterson@maryland.gov

 

Any person who believes they have, individually or as a member of any specific class of persons, been subjected to discrimination has the right to file a formal complaint.  Any such complaint must be in writing and submitted within 180 days following the date of the alleged occurrence to: ​

Use the Google Translate tab at the top right of the browser to see this policy and website in languages other than English.

Disability Access

MDE is committed to providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity for full participation in its programs, services, and activities through its compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. MDE and any of its agents will not coerce, intimidate, retaliate against, or discriminate against any individual for exercising a right under the ADA or Section 504, or for assisting or supporting another to exercise a right under the ADA or Section 504. If you need these services or an accommodation, contact Linda Mason, MDE’s ADA Coordinator, at 410-537-3152. If you use TTY, contact MDE through the Maryland Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-(800) 735-2258. For website-related matters, email mde.webmaster@maryland.gov​​ to discuss website-related matters

Accommodations for Non-Employees

MDE provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity for meaningful access and participation in MDE programs, services, and activities. No participant with a disability in a MDE program, service, or activity will be discriminated against in the provision of services available to all individuals in general.  Auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations used by individuals with disabilities to provide access to programs, services, and activities may not always be present; thus, individuals are responsible for letting MDE know what reasonable accommodations they need in advance, so that MDE may provide an appropriate response to the accommodation request. 

Accommodation Requests: Accommodations are not required that fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service, or activity; require waiver of essential program or licensure requirements; violate accreditation requirements; or pose an undue fiscal or administrative burden on MDE. In determining appropriate reasonable accommodations, MDE considers the wishes of the individual, and in certain appropriate circumstances, MDE also considers the documentation provided by the individual as well as institutional expertise in working with individuals with disabilities. MDE will not require an individual with a disability to accept an accommodation, aid, service, opportunity, or benefit under any circumstance. To request an accommodation, contact Linda Mason, MDE's ADA Coordinator, at 410-537-3152. If you use TTY, contact MDE through the Maryland Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-(800) 735-2258.  

Website Accessibility: MDE is actively making our website accessible to all users.  To ensure that MDE complies with state and federal law, MDE reviews each new webpage or application for compliance with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.  MDE also reviews previously existing webpages and applications for accessibility when making significant modifications to them.  Additionally, MDE continues to make older webpages and applications accessible. For inquiries about website-related matters, email mde.webmaster@maryland.gov .

Public Meetings: MDE asks individuals to make requests in a timely manner as noted below and cannot guarantee that requests for specific accommodations made with less time will be granted. If you need these services or an accommodation to participate in a public meeting, contact Linda Mason, MDE’s ADA Coordinator, at 410-537-3152. If you use TTY, contact MDE through the Maryland Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-(800) 735-2258.​

Accommodation at MDE for Employees

Consistent with MDE's Notice of Nondiscrimination, the State of Maryland Reasonable Accommodations Policy establishes the procedures for State of Maryland employees. Additionally, MDE employees who need accommodations may apply for accommodations by completing a Google Form. To review the Maryland Reasonable Accommodation Policy and procedures at https://sites.google.com/maryland.gov/mdenet/eeo-office/accommodations and apply for accommodations using a Google Form at https://forms.gle/4uRnD7KKTty7i2R6A. ​

Use the Google Translate tab at the top right of the browser to see this policy and website in languages other than English.

Language Access

Individuals that do not use English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English are considered limited English proficient (LEP). MDE is committed to the principle that people with LEP should have access and opportunity for full participation in its programs, services, and activities. 

Free Language Assistance

• Interpretation & Translation Services: If you speak a non-English language, we offer language assistance services free of charge. Complete this form to request language services: https://forms.gle/N2Df2CWbh1Ee6zPG8
  
  Contact Assata Peterson at 410-537-3152 or assata.peterson@maryland.gov​.

• Website: MDE's website has the Google Translate feature available for all web pages.
  

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Policy

The MDE LEP Policy reflects MDE's commitment to serving Marylanders of all backgrounds and cultures, including individuals with limited English proficiency. MDE recognizes its obligation to provide meaningful access to programs, services, and activities by removing language-based barriers to public interaction. Additionally, the policy provides the procedures MDE follows in responding to requests for interpretation, translation, and other language services and in assessing the need for language services.

For information about language access, contact MDE's Nondiscrimination Coordinator as follows:

Assata N. Peterson, Director
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 537-3152
Email: assata.peterson@maryland.gov​

Complaint Procedures

The following options are available for people who have concerns or complaints about services provided by MDE or MDE practices.​

Informal Complaints (non-employee)

​MDE encourages anyone with concerns about potential failure to provide services or discrimination in providing services to first discuss the matter with either of MDE's Nondiscrimination Coordinators (the Environmental Justice Coordinator and/or ADA Coordinator). Individuals are not required to pursue the informal process first and may engage in the formal complaint (grievance) process as their first step if preferred. The informal complaint process aims 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 MDE or MDE practices, or if you would like to relay your experiences to MDE without making a formal complaint, please contact the MDE Office of Equal Employment Opportunity as follows:

Formal Complaints with MDE (non-employee)

If you believe that MDE has failed to provide services or discriminated in another way based on race, color, national origin (including language), disability, sex, or age, you can file a grievance, See below for information about the MDE grievance or complaint procedures for non-employees and to make a formal complaint.

• Who Can File a Discrimination Complaint? Anyone who believes that they or a class of persons have been discriminated against may file a complaint with MDE. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may complain on behalf of another person or group. A complainant filing on behalf of or pertaining to another person(s) is responsible for securing any necessary written consent from that individual. Complaints shall be in writing and signed by the complainant or the complainant's representative and shall include contact information for the complainant or their representative.
  
  

• Filing of Complaint: A person (or the authorized representative of a person) who believes that they or a class of persons has been discriminated against may file a complaint with the MDE. The complaint should:
  

• be in writing;

• be filed within 60 days of an alleged violation (except as otherwise indicated in the following paragraph);

• describe with specificity the action(s) by MDE that allegedly resulted in discrimination in violation of 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7;

• describe with as much detail as possible the discrimination that allegedly has occurred or will occur as the result of such action(s); and

• identify the parties impacted or potentially impacted by the alleged discrimination.

• MDE may request additional information from the complainant, if this information is needed to meet the complaint requirements described above. MDE may waive requirement two (2) in its discretion, to address allegations of potential discrimination caused by pending actions at the earliest appropriate and feasible juncture; or, for good cause, to address complaints filed more than 60 days after an alleged violation. If individuals need language services, appropriate assistance will be provided.

• Complaints may be submitted by mailing or emailing the above information to the Non-Discrimination Coordinator or utilizing the fillable MDE Grievance Form (https://forms.gle/DyJpNWKHnkf99ovdA). The MDE Non-Discrimination Coordinator can be contacted as follows:
  

 

Assata N. Peterson, Director
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 537-3152
Email: assata.peterson@maryland.gov

 

• Receipt of Complaint: Within 10 days of receiving a written complaint, MDE will provide the complainant with written notice of receipt. MDE may request any additional information needed to meet the complaint requirements above. Within 10 days of receiving any additional information, MDE will create a case file containing all information about the complaint and will provide the complainant with written notice that the complaint is complete.
  

• Determination of Jurisdiction and Investigative Merit: MDE, based on information in the complaint and other information available, will determine if it has jurisdiction to pursue the matter and whether the complaint has sufficient merit to warrant an investigation. A complaint shall be regarded as meriting investigation unless:
  

• It clearly appears on its face to be frivolous or trivial;

• Within the time allotted for determining jurisdiction and investigative merit, MDE voluntarily concedes noncompliance and agrees to take appropriate remedial action or reaches an informal resolution with the complainant;

• Within the time allotted for determining jurisdiction and investigative merit, the complainant withdraws the complaint; or

• It is not timely and good cause does not exist for waiving the timing requirement.
  
  

• If the Non-Discrimination Coordinator determines the complaint submittal warrants further investigation, the Non-Discrimination Coordinator shall review the alleged facts to determine the course of the investigation. The investigation may include interviews of MDE employees, other relevant witnesses, or others named in the complaint. Relevant MDE employees shall make themselves available as necessary.
  
  

• Disposition of Complaints: Within 120 days of accepting a written complaint, MDE will respond in writing to the complainant with resolution including whether discrimination is found and a description of the investigation process. During the investigation, MDE will consider information that is credible and convincing. MDE intends to periodically review this grievance procedure on an annual basis to ensure prompt and fair resolution of discrimination complaints. In evaluating the effectiveness of the procedure and the need for additional measures, MDE will assess the feedback from agency staff and the public. 
  
  

• Retaliation: MDE is committed to fostering an environment where individuals can invoke these grievance procedures without fear of retaliation or reprisal. MDE explicitly prohibits retaliation against any individual for any purpose, including for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege guaranteed under any state or federal statutes or regulations because that individual has filed a complaint or has testified, assisted, or participated in any way in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing of any kind or has opposed any practice made unlawful under any state or federal statutes or regulations. Prohibited retaliatory acts include intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against any such individual or group. Any concern regarding retaliation should be reported to the Non-Discrimination Coordinator and will be handled promptly and fairly pursuant to MDE's Grievance Procedure.​

Formal Complaints with MDE (employees)

MDE employees seeking to file an internal complaint with MDE, may review complaint procedures at https://sites.google.com/maryland.gov/mdenet/eeo-office/complaints and may complete the Google complaint form https://forms.gle/gnyZDtW4YHSCbzXJA

Formal Complaints with External Agenices

Alternatively, complaints may be submitted to the following agencies. Complainants should refer to each agency’s requirements for complaint submissions​

U.S. EPA, External Civil Rights Compliance Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Mail code 2310A 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave NW 
Washington, DC 20460 
Email: Title_VI_Complaints@epa.gov 
https://www.epa.gov/external-civil-rights 

U.S. Department of the Interior 
Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights 
Director, Office of Civil Rights
Department of the Interior 
1849 C St NW 
Washington, DC 20240 
https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/Public-Civil-Rights 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (including U.S. Coast Guard) 
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Compliance Branch
Mail Stop # 0190 
2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE 
Washington, DC 20528-0190 
Email: CRCLCompliance@hq.dhs.gov
https://www.dhs.gov/file-civil-rights-complaint 

Federal Emergency Management Agency External Civil Rights Division 
FEMA Office of Equal Rights 
C St SW Rm 4SW-0915 
Washington, DC 20472-3505 
Email: FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov  
https://www.fema.gov/about/offices/equal-rights/civil-rights 

U.S. Department of Defense (including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 
Defense Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency Division 
Email: osd.ncr.ocmo.mbx.cl-correspondence@mail.mil 
https://dpcld.defense.gov/Portals/49/Documents/Civil/Civil_Liberties_Complaint_COVID-19.pdf   

U.S. Department of Agriculture 
U.S. Department of Agriculture Director
Center for Civil Rights Enforcement 
1400 Independence Ave SW 
Washington, DC 20250-9410 
Email: program.intake@usda.gov 
https://www.usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usdcustomer 

U.S. Department of Transportation
Departmental Office of Civil Rights
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, DC 20590
https://www.transportation.gov/civil-rights/complaint-resolution/publiccomplaint-process 

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 
10 South Howard Street, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
410-962-3932
www.eeoc.gov 

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) 
6 St. Paul Street, 9th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
www.mccr.maryland.gov

Use the Google Translate tab at the top right of the browser to see this policy and website in languages other than English.

Maryland Demographic Data

Census data reveals the following demographics within the State of Maryland:

Population

• In 2023 Maryland was home to 6,177,224 residents https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/maryland-population-change-between-census-decade.html 

Race and Ethnicity Data

 

• White alone 61.6%
  

• Black alone 12.4%
  

• Hispanic 18.7%; Asian alone 6%

• American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1.1%

• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 0.2%

• Some Other Race alone 8.4%

• Two or More Races 10.2% https://data.census.gov/profile/Maryland?g=040XX00US24 

Disability Data

• People with disabilities comprise 11.6% of Maryland's population. https://data.census.gov/vizwidget?g=040XX00US24&infoSection=Disability 

Age and Sex Data

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) (national origin): LEP in Maryland as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau data and U.S. Department of Justice data regarding the types of languages spoken in Maryland homes, is as follows: 

• Spanish 50%

• Chinese 8%

• Korean 6%

• Vietnamese 4%

• https://data.census.gov/vizwidget?g=040XX00US24&infoSection=Language%20Spoken%20at%20Home

• https://www.lep.gov/maps/lma2015/Final  

MDE monitors State of Maryland data to understand and anticipate the needs of Maryland’s diverse population.

Use the Google Translate tab at the top right of the browser to see this policy and website in languages other than English.

​