Charlyn P.,1 Complainant,v.Ryan K. Zinke, Secretary, Department of the Interior (National Park Service), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Mar 22, 2018

0520180059 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 22, 2018)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Charlyn P.,1
Complainant,

v.

Ryan K. Zinke,
Secretary,
Department of the Interior
(National Park Service),
Agency.

Request No. 0520180059

Appeal No. 0120170224

Hearing Nos. 420-2013-00196X,
420-2014-00106X

Agency Nos. NPS-12-0255
NPS-13-0213

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

Complainant timely requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or
Commission) reconsider its decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120170224 (September 12, 2017).
EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to
reconsider any previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a), where
the requesting party demonstrates that: (1) the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous
interpretation of material fact or law; or (2) the appellate decision will have a substantial impact
on the policies, practices, or operations of the agency. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c).

In the underlying complaint, Complainant alleged that the Agency discriminated against her on
the bases of sex (female) and reprisal (prior protected EEO activity) when: (1) on March 7, 2012,
her supervisor assigned a male, with less experience than Complainant, to conduct a VIP Park
Guide Tour; (2) on July 24, 2012, her supervisor and the Park Superintendent assigned a male

1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.
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employee to attend the July 31 to August 3, 2012 Tuskegee Airman National Convention,
overlooking her; and (3) on the basis of reprisal, when she was not selected for a Park Ranger
Developmental GS-5/7/9 position, announced under Vacancy Announcement Number SERO-13-
757832, at the Tuskegee Airman National Historic site.

Complainant requested a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). The AJ issued a
decision without a hearing in favor of the Agency. The previous appeal decision affirmed the
AJ’s decision.

In her reconsideration request Complainant fails to present evidence of discriminatory or
retaliatory animus on the part of any responsible management official that was overlooked by the
AJ. The Commission emphasizes that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the
Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614
(EEO MD-110), at 9-18 (Aug. 5, 2015); see, e.g., Lopez v. Dep't of Agric., EEOC Request No.
0520070736 (Aug. 20, 2007). Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to demonstrate
that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law, or
will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency.
Complainant has not done so here.

After reviewing the previous decision and the entire record, the Commission finds that the
request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the
Commission to deny the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120170224 remains the
Commission's decision. There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of the
Commission on this request.

COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0610)

This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of administrative appeal
from the Commission’s decision. You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate
United States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive
this decision. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in the complaint the
person who is the official Agency head or department head, identifying that person by his or her
full name and official title. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court.
“Agency” or “department” means the national organization, and not the local office, facility or
department in which you work.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815)

If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may
request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or
costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may
request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of
court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission.
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The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not
alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right
to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).

FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations

March 22, 2018
Date