What is Public Notification and Outreach?
Public notification and outreach means enhancing our customers' awareness of Forest
Service policies and program benefits by ensuring program information reaches the
widest range of people.
Also ensuring that our customers are notified that we claim we do not discriminate and
how to file a discrimination complaint if a customer believes he/she has been
discriminated against.
What are Forest Service units to do?
1. Increase public notification, relations and outreach efforts to all people especially
women, minorities and individuals with disabilities.
Each unit is to have a Public Notification Plan (FSM 1610 and FSH 1709.11)
2. Ensure that all affected publics are notified of projected and/or impending changes and
new initiatives.
Departmental Regulation 4360-1 “Communicating with Underserved Communities”
3. Ensure positive and continuing notification of the USDA equal opportunity policy to
the public.
“Equal Opportunity Public Notification Policy” Department Regulation 4300-3
(11/16/99)
4. Visual material should be inclusive of diverse populations.
5. Provide information in a variety of formats such as large print, audio, Braille, different
languages, etc.
6. All videos produced by the Forest Service and shown to the public are to be shown
with the captioning open.
Non discrimination Statement Requirements
The nondiscrimination statement for ALL Forest Service material related to Forest
Service CONDUCTED programs is:
“The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family
status. (Not all bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at (202)-720-2600
(voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 202509410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.''
This statement is required for all Agency materials produced for the purpose of:

Public Information

Public Education

Public Distribution
This includes all brochures, publications, exhibits, environmental impact statements,
environmental assessments, newsletters, advertisements, recruitment bulletins, social
impact assessments, maps, and scoping documents, to name a few.
If the material is too small permit the full statement to be included, as in a newspaper
advertisement, on a small map, etc. at the least there must be a statement that the “USDA
Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
The nondiscrimination statement is to be printed in the same size type as the rest of the
publication.
The nondiscrimination poster is to be placed in its agencies and recipient's offices. The
statement is to be posted in English and in languages appropriate to the local population.
The statement is available in 10 additional languages on the USDA, Office of Civil
Rights website.
What about permittees, partners, etc. (program recipients*)?
1. Program Recipients (such as permittees, grantees, partners, etc.) have similar
requirements though a different nondiscrimination statement.
ASSISTED programs, are those conducted through the use of Federally managed lands,
facilities, funds, etc. DR 4300-3 requires that the nondiscrimination statement set out
below shall be posted in all recipient offices (with the exception of Food Stamp program
recipients) and included, in full, on all materials regarding such recipients' programs that
are produced for public information, public education, or public distribution.
“In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy,
this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 202509410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.”
If the material is to small to permit the full statement to be included, the material will at
minimum include the statement, in print size no smaller than the text, that “This
institution is an equal opportunity provider.”
Posters, printed by the USDA, with the above nondiscrimination statement are to be
posted in the recipient's public reception areas. Until the USDA provides new posters
with the statement, use the supply of “And Justice for All” posters currently available.
2. A declaration of Federal assistance/partnership in the operation of the program.
Example: This institution is a permittee of the (name) National Forest.
3. Inclusive visuals and other formats are also required.
* Program Recipient: A person, group, agency or entity receiving Federal “financial”
assistance for program services and who in turn provides benefits to others. Example: a
campground concessionaire under special use permit from a National Forest.
Where does it say we have to do these things?
Legal Authorities:
Department of Justice, Title 28 Section 42.405
USDA 7 CFR Part 15.5(d) and 15e
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice
Department Regulation 4300-3 (11/16/99)
Department Regulation 4360-1 (3/24/98)
Forest Service Manual 1610 and ID 1641.1
Forest Service Handbook 1609.11, 1609.13 and 1709.11
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