EPA Provides $9.75 Million To States To Monitor Water Quality At Beaches And Protect Swimmers

Washington – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $9.75 million in grant funding that coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and territories will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.

“The Trump EPA is investing in clean water for all Americans this summer. By providing millions of dollars to keep swimmers safe, we are supporting strong beach community economies with our state and Tribal partners,” said EPA Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer Paige Hanson. “American families can kick off the summer this weekend with peace of mind as they visit our nation’s beautiful beaches to play in the water and relax with friends.”

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.

EPA anticipates awarding grants to the following eligible recipients after all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied:

EPA Region 1
Connecticut $209,000
Maine $254,000
Massachusetts $254,000
New Hampshire $191,000
Rhode Island $210,000

EPA Region 2
New Jersey $258,000
New York $315,000
Puerto Rico $319,000
U.S. Virgin Islands $302,000

EPA Region 3
Delaware $209,000
Maryland $258,000
Pennsylvania $214,000
Virginia $263,000

EPA Region 4
Alabama $260,000
Florida $478,000
Georgia $279,000
Mississippi $256,000
North Carolina $293,000
South Carolina $289,000

EPA Region 5
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians $50,000
Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe $50,000
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community $50,000
Illinois $232,000
Indiana $205,000
Michigan $260,000
Minnesota $203,000
Ohio $216,000
Wisconsin $220,000

EPA Region 6
Louisiana $347,000
Texas $373,000

EPA Region 9
American Samoa $302,000
California $477,000
Guam $302,000
Hawaii $319,000
Northern Mariana Islands $303,000

EPA Region 10
Alaska $150,000
Makah Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation $50,000
Oregon $219,000
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community $50,000
Washington $261,000

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.