(AGENPARL) – gio 20 giugno 2024 Issued: Jun 20, 2024 (11:05am EDT)
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EPA Makes a Splash with Award of $258,000 to New Jersey to Support Water
Quality Monitoring at Beaches to Protect Public Health
NEW YORK (June 20, 2024) – Today at Bradley Beach, NJ, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia announced
$258,000 in grant funding to help New Jersey ’s coastal communities protect
the health of beachgoers. She was joined by Congressman Frank Pallone Jr.,
Ranking Member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, Shawn
LaTourette, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Bradley Beach Mayor Larry Fox and other dignitaries. The funding
will assist New Jersey in conducting water quality monitoring and public
notification programs for their beaches.
“This funding helps keep beaches and coastal waters clean so that people can
have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that New Jersey coastlines have to
offer,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “EPA funding is vital
for successful beach monitoring and notification programs.”
“With our district?home to some of America’s most popular summer
destinations, we know better than most the importance of protecting our
beaches,”?said Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06). “Federal support is
indispensable to?ensure our beaches are safe and clean. As New Jerseyans and
countless others flock to our state’s beaches for a great summer, now is the
perfect time for the allocation of this federal support?so swimmers know the
water is clean to enjoy. I will always prioritize federal support for New
Jersey beaches.”
“I’m thrilled to see this EPA grant funding support water quality
monitoring and public safety in New Jersey’s beaches,” said Senator Cory
Booker. “This investment will protect public health, preserve our natural
resources, and benefit our coastal communities.” 
“The Department of Environmental Protection and our local partners are
extremely grateful for EPA’s continued support of New Jersey’s highly
successful Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program,” said New Jersey
Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “This funding
supports the important work done through a longstanding partnership between
the DEP and local health departments to monitor and report on water quality so
that residents and visitors can enjoy carefree and fun days at the beach. As a
result of these efforts, the public can easily visit njbeaches.org to find
information about water quality data and beach status reports before heading
down the shore to enjoy New Jersey’s consistently excellent water
quality.” 
Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, the
EPA awards grants to eligible state, tribal, and territorial applicants to
help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal
and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming,
these agencies notify the public by posting beach advisories or closings.
Since 2001, the EPA has awarded nearly $230 million in BEACH Act grants to
test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria, identify the sources of
pollution problems, and help notify the public. Three factors influenced the
EPA’s allocations for the 2024 grant amounts: (1) the length of the beach
season, (2) the number of miles of shoreline, and (3) the populations of
coastal counties.
To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have
coastal and Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar
points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality
standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality
standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11
performance criteria for implementing monitoring, assessment, and notification
components of the beach program.
More information on BEACH Act grants.
Check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for
closing or advisory information at a particular beach.