To: <Julie.Kinzelman@cityofracine.org>, <jfrye@environmentaldefence.ca>, <wirick.holiday@epa.gov>, <Beck.Judy@epamail.epa.gov>, <pscharfe@huroncounty.ca>, <patrick.levallois@msp.ulaval.ca>, <rosejo@msu.edu>, <dale.henry@ontario.ca>, <msanborn@sbghc.on.ca>, <lboughton@state.pa.us>, <richard_whitman@usgs.gov>, <skhaack@usgs.gov>, <AlleyD@windsor.ijc.org>
From: "Shannon Briggs" <briggssl@michigan.gov>
Date: 11/02/2007 11:05AM
Subject: Re: Beach Protection Act
Attached is a copy of the amended version of the "BEACH
Protection Act," H.R. 2537 as of October 30, 2007
>>> <AlleyD@windsor.ijc.org> 11/01/07 8:28 AM >>>
T&I Committee primes beach pollution bill for House floor (11/01/2007)
Lucy Kafanov, E&E Daily reporter
U.S. EPA would have to issue new beach water quality standards and
help
states fund cleanup efforts under legislation passed out of the full
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee yesterday.
Lawmakers approved by voice vote an amended version of the "BEACH
Protection Act," H.R. 2537
<http://www.eenews.net/features/bills/110/House/270607142124.pdf> ,
which would require EPA to approve rapid testing methods that detect
polluted water within hours to quickly close beaches. Offered by New
Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone (D) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D), the bill
would increase to $40 million the amount of grant money available
annually to states through 2012.
Current water quality monitoring tests only for bacteria levels and
takes 24 to 48 hours to produce reliable results, during which time
many
beachgoers can be unknowingly exposed to harmful pathogens.
While BEACH Act grants help states identify the scope of beach
contamination, states often lack money to investigate the underlying
causes of contamination. But H.R. 2537 includes language that would
permit states to use their grants to investigate and clean up
pollution
sources.
The bill also includes language from Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) to
re-evaluate the current formula used by EPA when distributing funding
for water quality testing to states.
The current formula distributes federal funding for water quality
efforts to each state based primarily on the length of the state's
"beach season," therefore awarding more federal dollars to southern
and
coastal states. LoBiondo's language would instruct EPA to consider
placing a greater emphasis on the number of visitors to state beaches
year-round, a move that would greatly benefit northern states.
"This legislation is vital to detecting waterborne illnesses," said
the
head of the committee, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.). "Through faster
detection of waterborne diseases, we can prevent human exposure to
polluted coastal recreational waters."
Attachment:
OBERST_099_xml.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document