Notice of Compliance with Permanent Injunction in Louisiana v. EPA et al

Return to EPA's External Civil Rights homepage

Pursuant to a permanent injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on August 22, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not impose or enforce Title VI disparate-impact requirements contained in 40 C.F.R. § 7.35(b), (c) against any entity in the State of Louisiana, nor require compliance with those requirements as a condition of past, existing, or future awards of financial assistance to any entity in the State of Louisiana.   

Also pursuant to the injunction, EPA will not enforce against any entity in the State of Louisiana any EPA disparate-impact requirement under Title VI or cumulative-impact-analysis requirement under Title VI that has not been ratified by the President pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 2000d-1 and is not contained in the EPA regulations within 40 C.F.R. Part 7. EPA will fully comply with the court’s order unless continued litigation results in changes to the court’s order.  

All EPA guidance documents are valid and apply in Louisiana except to the extent they conflict with the permanent injunction, as described above. All recipients of EPA financial assistance (including those in the state of Louisiana) have a continuing obligation to comply with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination against or otherwise excluding individuals or denying benefits on the basis of race, color, or national origin, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, all other Title VI implementing regulations, and all grant terms and conditions consistent with the court’s order.  Recipients must continue to comply with all other applicable nondiscrimination laws and their corresponding implementing regulations.