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We've Moved: The Illinois EPA Headquarters has moved to 2520 W Iles Ave, PO Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276.

Language Access

On January 6, 2025, the Illinois EPA issued its Final Language Access Plan (Final Plan).

Individuals that do not use English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English are considered limited English proficient (LEP). The Final Plan presents the Agency’s resources and protocols available to Agency employees for interacting with identified LEP individuals including the availability of interpretation and translation services at no cost to the requestor. Illinois EPA provides free language services to LEP individuals, such as qualified interpreters and information written in other languages.

Public Comments

The Illinois EPA opened the public review and comment period on the Draft Plan for 30 days. See below for links to the Draft Plan and accompanying public notice.

The Agency expresses its gratitude to everyone who reviewed the plan and provided comments. Agency staff reviewed the comments in depth and will follow-up with a responsiveness summary in the weeks to come. 

Request for Access and Grievance Forms 

As noted in the Final Plan, Illinois EPA has staff members fluent in Spanish who can communicate directly with the Spanish-speaking public. To speak to someone in Spanish, contact the Office of Environmental Justice.

Office of Environmental Justice
(217) 782-3440
EPA.OEJ@illinois.gov

For additional language access services, individuals may fill out the Request for Language Access form.

LEP individuals who feel they have been discriminated against on the basis of language access may also submit a Grievance Form to the Illinois EPA.

Background

On February 14, 2024, Illinois EPA voluntarily entered into an Informal Resolution Agreement (IRA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to resolve a civil rights complaint concerning the Illinois EPA’s issuance of an air construction permit for a metal shredder to be located on the Southeast Side of Chicago.

Under the IRA, Illinois EPA committed to revising several of its plans and polices, including its Language Access Plan (see previous versions in additional languages below). The Final Plan is reorganized to include detailed information about the Agency’s language assistance services, procedures, protocols, and processes for assessment and implementation.

All inquiries concerning language services should be directed to Illinois EPA's Language Access Coordinator, Chris Pressnall, (217) 524-1284, Chris.Pressnall@illinois.gov.

Previous Versions of Illinois EPA's Language Access Plan and Additional Resources

2024

Draft Revised Language Access Plan - 2024

[PLAN DE ACCESO LINGÜÍSTICO] [خطة توفیر خدمات اللغة] [ભાષા ઍક્સેસ યોજના] [언어 접근 계획] [PLAN DOSTĘPNOŚCI JĘZYKOWEJ] [ПЛАН ПО ПРЕОДОЛЕНИЮ ЯЗЫКОВОГО БАРЬЕРА] [语言服务计划] [PLANO SA AKSES SA WIKA] [語言服務計劃]

Public Notice

[Aviso de Período de Comentarios Públicos] [إشعار بشأن فترة التعليقات العامة] [જાહેર ટિપ્પણી સમયગાળાની સૂચના] [공개 의견 기간 공지] [Ogłoszenie o okresie konsultacji społecznych] [Уведомление о периоде проведения общественных слушаний] [公众意见征询期之通知] [Abiso sa Panahon ng Pampublikong Komento] [公眾評議期之通知]

2023