EPA to provide $1.89 million to help protect beachgoers in AL, FL, GA, MS, SC and NC from illness
ATLANTA (May 23, 2025) – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing $9.7 million in grant funding that states, Tribes and territories will use to monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of illness-causing bacteria make swimming unsafe.
Six states across EPA’s Southeast Region — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina — will share $1.89 million in grant funds.
“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.”
“Once again we see Administrator Zeldin take action to promote the first pillar of his Great American Comeback Initiative, which promises clean air, land and water to every American,” said EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber. “These grant awards, announced on the heels of last week’s Brownfields grant awards, will help ensure safe beaches along the 2,035 miles of coastland in the Southeastern states, protecting public health while promoting tourism and economic development.”
This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and it advances the goals of cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water. Each of these goals supports EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative.
EPA anticipates that it will award grants to the following eligible recipients after all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied:
EPA Region 4
Alabama $261,000
Florida $499,000
Georgia $282,000
Mississippi $257,000
North Carolina $299,000
South Carolina $294,000
Learn more about the BEACH Act grants.
Before heading to the shore, check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information.
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.