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This bill would update and extend a federal program that gives grants to states and local governments for checking beach water quality and warning the public about contamination. It broadens what areas can be monitored so that testing can include nearby shallow upstream waters, not just the beach itself, and it lets grant money be used to find the specific sources of pollution. The bill also renews federal funding for this work through fiscal year 2029 and tells the Environmental Protection Agency to make sure its guidance keeps up with new water-testing technology.
- Allows grant money to be used to monitor beach areas and nearby shallow upstream waters that may affect water quality.
- Lets states and local governments use grants to identify specific sources of contamination near beaches and public access areas.
- Updates federal funding authority so the program can continue from fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
- Requires EPA guidance to reflect newer water contamination testing methods and technology.
Official Summaries
Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 or the BEACH Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and expands an existing program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that awards grants to states and local governments to (1) monitor the water quality of coastal recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public; and (2) notify the public, local governments, and the EPA when the water is not safe for recreational activities.
Specifically, the bill expands the program to allow the EPA to award grants for identifying sources of contamination (i.e., pathogens) for coastal recreation waters. It also allows grants to be used for monitoring and notification of contamination in (1) shallow waters upstream from recreational waters, and (2) recreational waters on beaches.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 508 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 508
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to grants for
beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 11, 2025
Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to grants for
beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Beaches Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health Act of 2025'' or the ``BEACH Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. COASTAL RECREATION WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND NOTIFICATION.
(a) Program Development and Implementation Grants.--Section 406 of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``, including nearby
shallow upstream waters,'' after ``coastal
recreation waters''; and
(ii) by inserting ``or present on'' after
``adjacent to'';
(B) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause
(iii); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the
following:
``(ii) in the case of a State that uses
such grant to identify specific sources of
contamination pursuant to paragraph (5), any
data relating to such identified sources of
contamination; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Identification of specific sources of
contamination.--A State or local government receiving a grant
under this subsection may use such grant to identify specific
sources of contamination for coastal recreation waters,
including nearby shallow upstream waters, adjacent to or
present on beaches or similar points of access that are used by
the public.'';
(2) in subsection (g)(1)--
(A) by inserting ``, including nearby shallow
upstream waters,'' after ``coastal recreation waters'';
and
(B) by inserting ``or present on'' after ``adjacent
to''; and
(3) in subsection (i), by striking ``$30,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2001 through 2005'' and inserting ``$30,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 8 of the Beaches
Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (Public Law
106-284; 114 Stat. 877) is amended by striking ``2001 through 2005''
and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 3. GUIDANCE.
In providing guidance to States and local governments receiving
grants under section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1346), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
shall ensure that such guidance reflects innovations in testing
technologies for water contamination.
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