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BEACH Act of 2025
3/12/2025, 2:21 PM
Summary of Bill S 508
The bill aims to address issues related to water pollution and contamination at beaches, which can pose serious health risks to individuals who swim or recreate in these areas. By providing funding for monitoring programs, the government hopes to identify and address sources of pollution in a timely manner, ultimately leading to cleaner and safer beaches for the public to enjoy.
In addition to funding beach monitoring programs, the bill also includes provisions for improving public notification of water quality issues at beaches. This would help to ensure that individuals are aware of any potential health risks before they visit a beach, allowing them to make informed decisions about their activities. Overall, Bill 119 s 508 seeks to enhance water quality and public health at beaches through increased monitoring and improved communication with the public. By addressing these issues, the government hopes to create a safer and more enjoyable environment for individuals to enjoy recreational activities at beaches across the country.
Congressional Summary of S 508
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.
