Title VI
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states, "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, subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Subsequent laws, regulations, directives, and Executive Orders broadened the criteria for which discrimination is prohibited. Of note are two Presidential Executive Orders regarding non-discrimination requirements, Executive Order 12898 addressing Environmental Justice (EJ) and Executive Order 13166 which ensure those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to federally-conducted and/or funded programs and activities.
As a recipient of federal financial funding, Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) is required to comply with these and other non-discrimination laws and regulations. The principal objective of KMPO’s Title VI Plan is to provide definitions of Title VI, including Environmental Justice (EJ), and Limited English Proficiency (LEP), explain how they fit in the metropolitan transportation planning process and define the procedures followed to ensure the MPO’s compliance with non-discrimination requirements as outlined in Title 3 CFR, 49 CFR and related laws. EJ outreach strategies for minority, low-income, and LEP populations are included in the KMPO Public Involvement Policy.
For more information on Title VI, please refer to the Federal Highway Administration's overview on Title VI of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Additional Non-Discrimination Requirements.
Environmental Justice Plan
Coordinated Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Environmental Justice will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.
There are three fundamental Environmental Justice principles:
- To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health or 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 populations and low-income populations.
For more information, please refer to the Federal Highway Administration's overview on Environmental Justice.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
KMPO will ensure that no qualified disabled individual shall, solely on the basis of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any of its programs, services, or activities as provided by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). KMPO further ensures that every effort will be made to provide non-discrimination in all of its programs and activities regardless of the funding source.
For more information, please refer to the Federal Highway Administration's overview on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504).
KMPO is a strong advocate of Title VI.  If you feel you have been discriminated against by KMPO because of your race, color, national origin, income, or disability, please review and follow the Non-Discrimination Complaint Procedures found on pages 43-46 of the KMPO Title VI Plan.  To submit a Title VI Discrimination Complaint Form, print, fill out, and email, mail, or hand-deliver to KMPO, Attention: Title VI Coordinator, 250 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 209, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. Please contact us if you have any questions.
The KMPO Title VI Plan is provided in two formats - interactive pdf booklet (below) or single page pdf.