*** CORRECTION ***
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES SUIT AGAINST NORTHWEST
NEW MEXICO REGIONAL SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF RACIAL AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice today announced that it has settled an employment discrimination lawsuit filed against the Northwest New Mexico Regional Solid Waste Authority (Waste Authority).

The lawsuit, filed simultaneously with a consent decree that must be approved by the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, alleged that the Waste Authority discriminated against women, Hispanics and Native Americans by permitting racial and sexual harassment.

According to the complaint, the discrimination at the Waste Authority was so extreme and abusive that several of the women being harassed were forced to leave their positions. The lawsuit also alleged that the Waste Authority retaliated against persons who complained about the illegal discrimination. The Waste Authority denies the Justice Department's allegations. However, it has worked with the Department to resolve the problems alleged in the complaint.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., said, "Racial and sexual harassment remain serious problems in some workplaces and this Administration is committed to addressing these issues."

Under today's agreement, the Waste Authority will pay $148,000 to four victims of alleged sexual and racial harassment, as well as fully implement new policies against sexual harassment, racial harassment and retaliation, and new complaint investigation procedures and training programs.

Additional information about the Employment Litigation Section is available on the Department of Justice's website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp/index.html.

###

03-075