Public Civil Rights

The Public Civil Rights Compliance Program ensures that recipients of BLM financial assistance operate without discrimination and that all persons have equal opportunity to participate in BLM programs and activities.  The Office of Civil Rights processes complaints filed by the public, and systematically evaluates recipients based on civil rights laws and requirements.

The following laws, regulations, and Executive Orders guide all Public Civil Rights Programs:

  • Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (Pub. L. 90-480; 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) provides that certain buildings financed with federal funds are so designed and constructed to be accessible to the physically disabled by establishing accessibility standards.
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-318; 86 Stat. 235; 373; 20 U.S.C. 1681-1688) as amended by Pub. L. 93-568; 88 Stat. 1855) (except sections 904 and 906 of those Amendments) is designed to eliminate (with certain exceptions) discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, whether or not such program or activity is offered or sponsored by an educational institution.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-112; 87 Stat. 394; 29 U.S.C. 794), as amended by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-516; 88 Stat. 1617) and the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Service, and Developmental Disabilities Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-602; 92 Stat. 2955; 29 U.S.C. 700 et seq.) prohibits discrimination based on disability in federally assisted and conducted programs, activities, and services. 
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-220; 112 Stat. 936) Section 508 requires federal departments and agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology to ensure that federal employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to and use of information and data, comparable to that of the employees and members of the public without disabilities.
  • Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, (Pub. L. 94-135, Title III; 42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) prohibits discrimination based on age in programs, activities, and services receiving federal financial assistance.
  • Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-259; 102 Stat. 28), as amended, by Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102-166; 42 U.S.C. 2000d) to overturn the Supreme Court’s 1984 decision in Grove City College v. Bell, and to restore the effectiveness and vitality of the four major federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs, activities, and services receiving federal financial assistance. For civil rights coverage purposes, the law broadly defines the terms “program” or “activity.
  • Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-542; 102 Stat. 2721; 40 U.S.C. 762 a-d) expands our national telecommunications system for the benefit of the hearing-impaired and speech-impaired populations, and provides for General Service Administration coordinated relay services.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-336; 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) with DOJ regulations at 28 CFR 35, including published revisions taking effect March 15, 2011, with revised 2010 design standards taking effect March15, 2012. Title II of the ADA, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in State or local government programs, services, and activities whether or not they receive federal financial assistance.
  • 41 CFR Parts 102-76.60, .65, .70, .75, .80, .85, .90, .95 are GSA-ABA Accessibility Standards in which GSA adopts Appendices C and D to 36 CFR Part 1191 (ABA Chapters 1 and 2, and Chapters 3 through 10) as the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS).
  • 43 CFR 17 prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs in the Department of the Interior.
  • 43 CFR Part 41 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. 
  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally assisted program.
  • Executive Order 12989, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations identifies as discrimination, program actions taken, which adversely affect the health and environment of minority populations (i.e., ecosystems, human health, pollution and noise, historic/religious environmental effects). The EO provides coverage for federally conducted programs, activities, and services and notes that the same duties are relevant to federal financial assistance programs, activities, and services covered under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • Executive Order 13160, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Disability, Religion, Age, Sexual Orientation, and Status as a Parent in Federally Conducted Education and Training Programs ensures equal opportunity in government educational programs, activities, and services.
  • Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency improves access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs under Title VI and activities for individuals who, as a result of national origin, are limited in their English proficiency.

Public Civil Rights Manager