(a) Assurances—(1) General. Applicants for EPA assistance shall submit an assurance with their applications stating that, with respect to their programs or activities that receive EPA assistance, they will comply with the requirements of this part. Applicants must also submit any other information that the OCR determines is necessary for preaward review. The applicant's acceptance of EPA assistance is an acceptance of the obligation of this assurance and this part.

(2) Duration of assurance—(i) Real property. When EPA awards assistance in the form of real property, or assistance to acquire real property, or structures on the property, the assurance will obligate the recipient, or transferee, during the period the real property or structures are used for the purpose for which EPA assistance is extended, or for another purpose in which similar services or benefits are provided. The transfer instrument shall contain a covenant running with the land which assures nondiscrimination. Where applicable, the covenant shall also retain a right of reverter which will permit EPA to recover the property if the covenant is ever broken.

(ii) Personal property. When EPA provides assistance in the form of personal property, the assurance will obligate the recipient for so long as it continues to own or possess the property.

(iii) Other forms of assistance. In all other cases, the assurance will obligate the recipient for as long as EPA assistance is extended.

(b) Wastewater treatment project. EPA Form 4700-4 shall also be submitted with applications for assistance under Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

(c) Compliance information. Each applicant for EPA assistance shall submit regarding the program or activity that would receive EPA assistance:

(1) Notice of any lawsuit pending against the applicant alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin;

(2) A brief description of any applications pending to other Federal agencies for assistance, and of Federal assistance being provided at the time of the application; and

(3) A statement describing any civil rights compliance reviews regarding the applicant conducted during the two-year period before the application, and information concerning the agency or organization performing the reviews.

(a) Compliance information. Each recipient shall collect, maintain, and on request of the OCR, provide the following information to show compliance with this part:

(1) A brief description of any lawsuits pending against the recipient that allege discrimination which this part prohibits;

(2) Racial/ethnic, national origin, age, sex and handicap data, or EPA Form 4700-4 information submitted with its application;

(3) A log of discrimination complaints which identifies the complaint, the date it was filed, the date the recipient's investigation was completed, the disposition, and the date of disposition; and

(4) Reports of any compliance reviews conducted by any other agencies.

(b) Additional compliance information. If necessary, the OCR may require recipients to submit data and information specific to certain programs or activities to determine compliance where there is reason to believe that discrimination may exist in a program or activity receiving EPA assistance or to investigate a complaint alleging discrimination in a program or activity receiving EPA assistance. Requests shall be limited to data and information which is relevant to determining compliance and shall be accompanied by a written statement summarizing the complaint or setting forth the basis for the belief that discrimination may exist.

(c) Self-evaluation. (1) Each recipient must conduct a self-evaluation of its administrative policies and practices, to consider whether such policies and practices may involve handicap discrimination prohibited by this part. When conducting the self-evaluation, the recipient shall consult with interested and involved persons including handicapped persons or organizations representing handicapped persons. The evaluation shall be completed within 18 months after the effective date of this part.

(2) Each recipient employing the equivalent of 15 or more full time employees may be required to complete a written self-evaluation of its compliance under the Age Discrimination Act as part of a compliance review or complaint investigation. This self-evaluation will pertain to any age distinction imposed in its program or activity receiving Federal assistance from EPA. If required, each recipient's self-evaluation shall identify and justify each age distinction imposed by the recipient and each recipient shall take corrective and remedial action whenever a self-evaluation indicates a violation of the Age Discrimination Act.

(d) Preparing compliance information. In preparing compliance information, a recipient must:

(1) [Reserved]

(2) Use the racial classifications set forth in § 7.25 in determining categories of race, color or national origin.

(e) Maintaining compliance information. Recipients must keep records for paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section for three (3) years after completing the project. When any complaint or other action for alleged failure to comply with this part is brought before the three-year period ends, the recipient shall keep records until the complaint is resolved.

(f) Accessibility to compliance information. A recipient shall:

(1) Give the OCR access during normal business hours to its books, records, accounts and other sources of information, including its facilities, as may be pertinent to ascertain compliance with this part;

(2) Make compliance information available to the public upon request; and

(3) Assist in obtaining other required information that is in the possession of other agencies, institutions, or persons not under the recipient's control. If such party refuses to release that information, the recipient shall inform the OCR and explain its efforts to obtain the information.

(g) Coordination of compliance effort. If the recipient employs fifteen (15) or more employees, it shall designate at least one person to coordinate its efforts to comply with its obligations under this part.

(a) Requirements. Each recipient shall adopt grievance procedures that assure the prompt and fair resolution of complaints which allege violation of this part.

(b) Exception. Recipients with fewer than fifteen (15) full-time employees need not comply with this section unless the OCR finds a violation of this part or determines that creating a grievance procedure will not significantly impair the recipient's ability to provide benefits or services.

(a) Requirements. A recipient shall provide initial and continuing notice that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap in a program or activity receiving EPA assistance or, in programs or activities covered by section 13, on the basis of sex. Methods of notice must accommodate those with impaired vision or hearing. At a minimum, this notice must be posted in a prominent place in the recipient's offices or facilities. Methods of notice may also include publishing in newspapers and magazines, and placing notices in recipient's internal publications or on recipient's printed letterhead. Where appropriate, such notice must be in a language or languages other than English. The notice must identify the responsible employee designated in accordance with § 7.85.

(b) Deadline. Recipients of assistance must provide initial notice by thirty (30) calendar days after award and continuing notice for the duration of EPA assistance.

No applicant, recipient, nor other person shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual or group, either:

(a) For the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege guaranteed by the Acts or this part, or

(b) Because the individual has filed a complaint or has testified, assisted or participated in any way in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under this part, or has opposed any practice made unlawful by this regulation.