(AGENPARL) – Tue 27 May 2025 EPA to Provide $382,000 to Texas to Help Protect Beachgoers from Illness
DALLAS, TEXAS (May 27, 2025) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the Texas General Land Office will receive $382,000 in grant funding to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of illness-causing bacteria make swimming unsafe.
“Millions of Americans will travel to the beach this summer to relax or play in the water. They will make lifelong memories and provide a boon to local economies,” said EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Peggy Browne. “With $9.7 million from EPA, states and local authorities can help ensure that our beaches are open for business and that beachgoers can swim and splash without fear of getting sick.”
“Ensuring the safety of beaches allows all Americans to have fun in the sun while providing an economic boost to coastal communities,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “I applaud Administrator Zeldin’s initiative for ensuring our economies along the Gulf of America are vibrant and thriving.”
EPA anticipates that it will award grants to the following Region 6 eligible recipients after all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied:
EPA Region 6
Louisiana $359,000
Texas $382,000
Background
To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal or 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. Each grantee receives an amount based on the length of the beach season, the number of miles of shoreline and the populations of coastal counties. 
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Environmental Protection Agency, 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75270 United States