EPA Provides $944,000 to Mid-Atlantic States to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers
PHILADELPHIA – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $944,000 in grant funding that Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.
“Across the Mid-Atlantic, our beaches are treasured places for residents and visitors alike,” said EPA Region 3 Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey. “This funding strengthens water-quality monitoring and helps states issue timely public advisories when conditions aren’t safe, so people can make informed choices and enjoy our beautiful beaches with peace of mind, advancing EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. At its heart, it’s simple: sound science, steady monitoring, and clear advisories that protect our communities.”
This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA’s goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative.
Funding amounts for Mid-Atlantic states is as follows:
- Delaware $209,000
- Maryland $258,000
- Pennsylvania $214,000
- Virginia $263,000
Learn more about BEACH Act grants.
Before heading to the beach, 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 the monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their 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.