(AGENPARL) - Roma, 13 Giugno 2024 - (AGENPARL) – gio 13 giugno 2024 Issued: Jun 13, 2024 (3:40pm EDT)
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EPA Makes a Splash with Award of $315,000 to New York to Support Water Quality
Monitoring at Beaches to Protect Public Health
NEW YORK (June 13, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) announced $315,000 in grant funding to help New York’s coastal and Great
Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist
New York 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 York coastlines have to
offer,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “EPA funding is vital
for successful beach monitoring and notification programs.”
“Protecting the health of beachgoers from bacteria in our waters is of the
utmost importance for New Yorkers to enjoy this summer swimming season,”
said Senate Majority Leader Schumer. “This federal EPA funding will help
ensure safe water at both downstate beaches and Great Lakes beaches by giving
New York the resources needed to closely monitor water quality.” 
“As thousands of beachgoers enjoy New York’s coastal and Great Lakes
beaches this summer, they deserve to enjoy the waters without a threat to
their health,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This federal funding will
help local authorities monitor beach water quality and ensure that swimmers
know when the waters are safe. I am proud to see EPA making this critical
investment and will continue to fight to ensure all can safely enjoy New
York’s beaches.”
“I have always called the Long Island Sound our ‘National Park.’ Safeguarding
and conserving the Sound and our coastal beach areas has consistently been a
priority of mine throughout my decades-long career in public service. This
grant funding from the EPA will significantly contribute to guaranteeing that
the water quality at our local beaches remains safe for everyone to enjoy
throughout the entire summer season,” said Representative Tom Suozzi (NY-03).
“Water quality monitoring and public notification programs are crucial to
protecting public health and I thank the EPA for awarding this funding,
especially as New Yorkers hit the beaches for the summer,” said
Representative Grace Meng (NY-06). “As New York’s representative on the
House of Representatives’ Regional Leadership Council – which works to
promote and implement legislation signed by President Biden – I am glad that
critical federal funding continues to flow to our state.”
“Ensuring the resiliency of Great Lakes communities is a key part of
protecting our environment and providing recreational opportunities for our
families,” said Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25). “I’m grateful to
the Environmental Protection Agency and the Biden Administration for their
ongoing commitment to investing in New York’s shoreline communities as both
economic and recreational assets—including this latest $315,000 grant to
support water quality monitoring and beach public notification programs. I
look forward to continuing to work alongside the EPA to safeguard our Great
Lakes for generations to come.”
“New York State is home to many beautiful beaches from the Great Lakes to
the Atlantic Ocean, and we encourage people to get out and enjoy these areas
this summer,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.
“These BEACH Act grants through the Environmental Protection Agency will
allow communities to keep their beaches safe for all New Yorkers, while
allowing the Department and our partners to monitor beach water quality and
share information with the public to ensure everyone can enjoy safe and
healthy beach days.” 
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.