Beach Act of 2015

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Beach Act of 2015 2. Water pollution source identification (a) Monitoring protocols Section 406(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(a)(1)(A) methods for monitoring protocols for monitoring that are most likely to detect pathogenic contamination (b) Source Tracking Section 406(b) of such Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(b) (5) Contents of monitoring and notification programs For the purposes of this section, a program for monitoring, assessment, and notification shall include, consistent with performance criteria published by the Administrator under subsection (a), monitoring, public notification, storm event testing, source tracking, and sanitary surveys, and may include prevention efforts, not already funded under this Act to address identified sources of contamination by pathogens and pathogen indicators in coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public. . (c) Authorization of appropriations Section 406(i) of such Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(i) 2001 through 2005 2016 through 2020 3. Funding for Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act Section 8 of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 ( Public Law 106–284 2005 2018 4. State reports Section 406(b)(3)(A)(ii)) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(b)(3)(A)(ii) public public and all environmental agencies of the State with authority to prevent or treat sources of pathogenic contamination in coastal recreation waters 5. Use of rapid testing methods (a) Contents of State and local government programs Section 406(c)(4)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(c)(4)(A) methods methods, including a rapid testing method after the last day of the one-year period after the date of validation of that rapid testing method by the Administrator, (b) Revised criteria Section 304(a)(9)(A) of such Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)(A) methods, as appropriate methods, including rapid testing methods (c) Validation and use of rapid testing methods (1) Validation of rapid testing methods Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act referred to as the Administrator 33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)(A) (2) Guidance for use of rapid testing methods (A) In general Not later than 180 days after completion of the validation under paragraph (1), after providing notice and an opportunity for public comment, the Administrator shall publish guidance for the use at coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public of a rapid testing method that will enhance the protection of public health and safety through rapid public notification of any exceedance of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators. (B) Prioritization In developing such guidance, the Administrator shall require the use of a rapid testing method at those beaches or similar points of access that are the most used by the public. (d) Definition Section 502 of such Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1362 (27) Rapid testing method The term rapid testing method . (e) Revisions to rapid testing methods (1) In general Upon completion of the validation required under subsection (c)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall identify and review potential rapid testing methods for existing water quality criteria for pathogens and pathogen indicators for coastal recreation waters. (2) Revisions to rapid testing methods If a rapid testing method identified under paragraph (1) will make results available in less time and improve the accuracy and reproducibility of results when compared to the existing rapid testing method, the Administrator shall complete an evaluation and validation of the rapid testing method as expeditiously as practicable. (3) Reporting requirement Upon completion of the review required under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register the results of the review, including information on any potential rapid testing method proposed for evaluation and validation under paragraph (2). (4) Declaration of goals for rapid testing methods It is a national goal that by 2019, a rapid testing method for testing water quality of coastal recreation waters be developed that can produce accurate and reproducible results in not more than 2 hours after receipt of the applicable sample. 6. Notification of Federal, State, and local agencies Section 406(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(c) (1) in paragraph (5), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking prompt communication communication, within 2 hours of the receipt of the results of a water quality sample, (2) by striking paragraph (5)(A) and inserting the following: (A) in the case of— (i) any State in which the Administrator is administering the program under section 402, the Administrator, in such form as the Administrator determines to be appropriate; and (ii) any State other than a State to which clause (i) applies, all agencies of the State government with authority to require the prevention or treatment of the sources of coastal recreation water pollution; and ; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and (4) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6) measures for an annual report to the Administrator, in such form as the Administrator determines appropriate, on the occurrence, nature, location, pollutants involved, and extent of any exceedance of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators; . 7. Content of State and local programs Section 406(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(c) (1) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated by section (6)(3) of this Act)— (A) by striking the posting the immediate posting (B) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) (as redesignated by section 6(3) of this Act) and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (9) the availability of a geographic information system database that such State or local government program shall use to inform the public about coastal recreation waters and that— (A) is publicly accessible and searchable on the Internet; (B) is organized by beach or similar point of access; (C) identifies applicable water quality standards, monitoring protocols, sampling plans and results, and the number and cause of coastal recreation water closures and advisory days; and (D) is updated within 12 hours of the availability of information indicating the presence of pathogens or pathogen indicators; and (10) measures to ensure that closures or advisories are made or issued within 2 hours after the receipt of the results of a water quality sample that exceeds applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators. . 8. Compliance review Section 406(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(h) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (2) by moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right; (3) by striking In the (1) In general In the ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (2) Compliance review On or before July 31 of each calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall— (A) prepare a written assessment of compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements of this section for each State and local government and of compliance with conditions of each grant made under this section to a State or local government; (B) notify the State or local government of such assessment; and (C) make each of the assessments available to the public in a searchable database on the Internet on or before December 31 of such calendar year. (3) Corrective action If a State or local government that the Administrator notifies under paragraph (2) is not in compliance with any requirement or grant condition described in paragraph (2) fails to take such action as may be necessary to comply with such requirement or condition within one year after the date of notification, any grants made under subsection (b) to the State or local government, after the last day of such one-year period and while the State or local government is not in compliance with all requirements and grant conditions described in paragraph (2), shall have a Federal share of not to exceed 50 percent. (4) GAO review Not later than December 31 of the third calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Comptroller General shall conduct a review of the activities of the Administrator under paragraphs (2) and (3) during the first and second calendar years beginning after such date of enactment and submit to Congress a report on the results of such review. . 9. Publication of coastal recreation waters pathogen list Section 304(a)(9) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9) (C) Publication of pathogen and pathogen indicator list Upon publication of the new or revised water quality criteria under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a list of all pathogens and pathogen indicators studied under section 104(v). . 10. Adoption of new or revised criteria and standards Section 303(i) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1313(i) (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking water quality criteria and standards the most protective water quality criteria and standards practicable (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking paragraph (1)(A) paragraph (1) 11. National List of Beaches Section 406(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(g) (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting , regardless of the presence of a lifeguard, that are used by the public (2) in paragraph (3), by striking The Administrator Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of the Beach Act of 2015, and biennially thereafter, the Administrator shall update the list described in paragraph (1). 12. Impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters (a) Study The Administrator shall conduct a study on the long-term impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters. (b) Report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (2) Information on potential contamination impacts The report shall include information on the potential impacts of pathogenic contamination on ground and surface water resources as well as public and ecosystem health in coastal communities. (3) Federal actions The report shall highlight necessary Federal actions to help advance the availability of information and tools to assess and mitigate these effects in order to protect public and ecosystem health. (4) Consultation In developing the report, the Administrator shall work in consultation with agencies active in the development of the National Water Quality Monitoring Network and the implementation of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy. 13. Impact of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters (a) Study The Administrator shall conduct a study to review the available scientific information pertaining to the impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters. (b) Report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (2) Impacts Such report shall include information on any adverse impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters, including adverse impacts caused by algal blooms resulting from excess nutrients. (3) Recommendations Such report shall include recommendations for action to address adverse impacts of excess nutrients and algal blooms on coastal recreation waters, including the establishment and implementation of numeric water quality criteria for nutrients. (4) Consultation In developing such report, the Administrator shall consult with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies (including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), States, and local government entities.

Summary: Beach Act of 2015 This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program for monitoring, and notifying the public of, any pathogens in coastal recreation waters bordering public beaches. The bill reauthorizes through FY2018 the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000. The bill establishes requirements with respect to: (1) using rapid testing methods to detect unsafe levels of pathogens or pathogen indicators in those waters, and (2) notifying governmental agencies when pathogens exceed water quality standards. Those methods must provide testing results within four hours of receiving a sample. Communication with governments must occur within two hours of the receipt of the results of water quality samples. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must assess state and local compliance with coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification legal requirements and grant conditions. The bill limits federal support of grants to non-compliant state or local governments. The Government Accountability Office must review the EPA's compliance assessments and corrective actions. States with coastal recreation waters must adopt the most protective water quality criteria and standards practicable for pathogens. The EPA must: (1) update the national list of beaches that are used by the public regardless of the presence of a lifeguard within 12 months and biennially thereafter (currently, periodically); (2) study the long-term impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters; and (3) study the impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters.