[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR7.115]

[Page 147-148]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
 
PART 7_NONDISCRIMINATION IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart E_Agency Compliance Procedures
 
Sec. 7.115  Postaward compliance.

    (a) Periodic review. The OCR may periodically conduct compliance 
reviews of any recipient's programs or activities receiving EPA 
assistance, including the request of data and information, and may 
conduct on-site reviews when it has reason to believe that 
discrimination may be occurring in such programs or activities.
    (b) Notice of review. After selecting a recipient for review or 
initiating a complaint investigation in accordance with Sec. 7.120, the 
OCR will inform the recipient of:
    (1) The nature of and schedule for review, or investigation; and

[[Page 148]]

    (2) Its opportunity, before the determination in paragraph (d) of 
this section is made, to make a written submission responding to, 
rebutting, or denying the allegations raised in the review or complaint.
    (c) Postreview notice. (1) Within 180 calendar days from the start 
of the compliance review or complaint investigation, the OCR will notify 
the recipient in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, 
of:
    (i) Preliminary findings;
    (ii) Recommendations, if any, for achieving voluntary compliance; 
and
    (iii) Recipient's right to engage in voluntary compliance 
negotiations where appropriate.
    (2) The OCR will notify the Award Official and the Assistant 
Attorney General for Civil Rights of the preliminary findings of 
noncompliance.
    (d) Formal determination of noncompliance. After receiving the 
notice of the preliminary finding of noncompliance in paragraph (c) of 
this section, the recipient may:
    (1) Agree to the OCR's recommendations, or
    (2) Submit a written response sufficient to demonstrate that the 
preliminary findings are incorrect, or that compliance may be achieved 
through steps other than those recommended by OCR.

If the recipient does not take one of these actions within fifty (50) 
calendar days after receiving this preliminary notice, the OCR shall, 
within fourteen (14) calendar days, send a formal written determination 
of noncompliance to the recipient and copies to the Award Official and 
Assistant Attorney General.
    (e) Voluntary compliance time limits. The recipient will have ten 
(10) calendar days from receipt of the formal determination of 
noncompliance in which to come into voluntary compliance. If the 
recipient fails to meet this deadline, the OCR must start proceedings 
under paragraph (b) of Sec. 7.130.
    (f) Form of voluntary compliance agreements. All agreements to come 
into voluntary compliance must:
    (1) Be in writing;
    (2) Set forth the specific steps the recipient has agreed to take, 
and
    (3) Be signed by the Director, OCR or his/her designee and an 
official with authority to legally bind the recipient.