The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) makes every effort to provide fair treatment of all persons regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin (including language), sex, age, mental or physical disability, reprisal, sexual orientation, status as a parent, and genetic information in their hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing activities.
It is the policy of WDFW to provide equal access to its programs, services, activities, and facilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. WDFW is a recipient of state and federal financial assistance.
WDFW is inclusive and prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, religious beliefs, national origin (including language), sex, age, mental or physical disability, reprisal or retaliation, sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender expression), status as a parent, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, and genetic information.
Everyone, without exception, has a human right to live, work, study, recreate, express themselves, and pursue their goals, with equal opportunity, respect, and dignity, in safe, welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environments, free from unlawful bias, discrimination, and harassment.
This formal complaint procedure is established in accordance with agency, state and federal law. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious beliefs, national origin (including language), sex, age, mental or physical disability, reprisal or retaliation, sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender expression), status as a parent, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, and genetic information in the provision of services by or access to activities, programs or facilities of WDFW.
This procedure does not apply to complaints relating to employment by WDFW.
1. File complaint
If you believe you have been discriminated against (as described above), a complaint must be in writing on the “Civil Rights Complaint/Decision Appeal” form and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number, Wild ID of petitioner and location, date, and description of the complaint. Petitioners must sign and date form certifying the information is true and correct.
Please use the Civil Rights Complaint/Appeal form to file a complaint.
The complaint must be submitted by the complainant or their designee as soon as possible, but no later than 180 calendar days after the alleged violation to:
WDFW Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
PO Box 43139
Olympia, WA 98504
833-885-1012
TTY/TDD; 7-1-1 (Washington Relay Service)
Fax 360-902-2392
Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complaint, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request. If you need further assistance or information, please contact the Olympia office of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: 360-902-2349, or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), 360-902-2207.
2. Departmental review
Within 180 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the HR Director or their designee will communicate with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions.
Within 180 calendar days after the communication, the Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator or their designee will respond in writing, or, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final decision of the complaint. The response will explain the position of WDFW and offer alternative options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
3. Appeal Decision
If the response by the Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator or their designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or their designee may appeal the decision within 180 calendar days after receipt of the response to an administrative law judge, or the complainant may write to: Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Division, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240.
4. Records Retention
All written complaints received, notes, and responses will be retained by WDFW for at least three years.
Title VI clause
It is the policy of Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to provide equal access to its programs, services, activities, and facilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. WDFW is a recipient of state and federal financial assistance.
WDFW is inclusive and prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, religious beliefs, national origin (including language), sex, age, mental or physical disability, reprisal or retaliation, sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender expression), status as a parent, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, and genetic information.
If you need further assistance or information, please contact the Olympia office of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: 833-885-1012, or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf TTY (711).