Beach Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-2601
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2013-06-28
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Marine pollution

Outdoor recreation

Seashores and lakeshores

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2013-07-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-06-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Beach Act of 2013 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to specify, in performance criteria for monitoring and assessing coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of interest (waters), available protocols for monitoring that are most likely to detect pathogenic contamination. </p> <p>Authorizes states or local governments, in carrying out coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification programs, to develop and implement a coastal recreation waters pollution source identification and tracking program for such waters that are used by the public and that are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators. </p> <p>Authorizes appropriations for grants to states and local governments for developing and implementing monitoring and notification programs for FY2014-FY2018. </p> <p>Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 through FY2018.</p> <p>Requires a state recipient of a monitoring and notification program grant to report to the EPA Administrator on actions taken to notify state environmental agencies with authority to prevent or treat sources of pathogenic contamination in coastal recreation waters when water quality standards are exceeded.</p> <p>Requires state or local government grant recipients to identify: </p> <ul> <li> the use of a rapid testing method to detect levels of pathogens or pathogen indicators that are harmful to human health; </li> <li> measures for communicating the results of a water sample concerning pollutants within 24 hours of receipt to specified officials and all state agencies with authority to require the prevention or treatment of the sources of pollution in coastal recreation waters; </li> <li>measures for an annual report to the Administrator on the occurrence, nature, location, pollutants involved, and extent of any exceeding of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators; </li> <li> the availability of a geographic information system database that a state or local government program shall use to inform the public about coastal recreation waters, that is publicly accessible and searchable, that is updated within 24 hours of the availability of revised information, that is organized by beach, and that identifies applicable water quality standards, monitoring protocols, sampling plans and results, and the number and causes of beach closures and advisory days; and </li> <li> measures to ensure that closures or advisories are made within two hours after the receipt of the results of a water quality sample that exceeds applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators.</li> </ul> <p>Defines &quot;rapid testing method&quot; as a method of testing the water quality of coastal recreation waters for which results are available as soon as practicable and not more than six hours after its commencement in the laboratory. Requires the Administrator to: </p> <ul> <li>include a revised list of rapid testing methods in the publication of new or revised water quality criteria;</li> <li>publish with such criteria a list of pathogens and pathogen indicators studied;</li> <li> complete an evaluation and validation of a rapid testing method for the water quality criteria and standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators by October 14, 2012; </li> <li> publish guidance for the use, at coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches that are used by the public, of the rapid testing methods that will enhance the protection of public health and safety through rapid public notification of any exceeding of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators; </li> <li> identify and review every five years potential rapid testing methods for existing water quality criteria for pathogens and pathogen indicators for coastal recreation waters and complete, as expeditiously as practicable, an evaluation and validation of any such method that will make results available in less time and improve the accuracy and reproducibility of results; and </li> <li> publish the results of such review. </li> </ul> <p>Declares a national goal of developing a rapid testing method that can produce accurate and reproducible results in not more than two hours by 2019.</p> <p>Requires: (1) a written assessment by the Administrator of state and local compliance with coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification statutory and regulatory requirements and grant conditions, (2) corrective actions by governments not in compliance, and (3) a review by the Comptroller General of such compliance review and corrective actions.</p> <p>Requires the Administrator to: (1) update the national list of beaches within 12 months after this Act's enactment and biennially thereafter (currently, periodically); (2) study and report to Congress on the long-term impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters; and (3) conduct and report on a study to review the available scientific information pertaining to the impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2601 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 28, 2013 Mr. Pallone (for himself and Mrs. Capps ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL 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 2013 . 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)) is amended by striking methods for monitoring and inserting 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) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Source Identification Programs In carrying out a monitoring and notification program, a State or local government may develop and implement a coastal recreation waters pollution source identification and tracking program for coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public and are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators. . (c) Authorization of Appropriations Section 406(i) of such Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(i) ) is amended by striking $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and inserting $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 . 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 ) is amended by striking 2005 and inserting 2018 . 4. State Reports Section 406(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (as redesignated by section (2)(b)(1) of this Act) is amended by striking public and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking methods and inserting methods, including a rapid testing method after the last day of the one-year period following 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) ) is amended by striking methods, as appropriate and inserting methods, including rapid testing methods . (c) Validation and Use of Rapid Testing Methods (1) Validation of Rapid Testing Methods Not later than October 15, 2014, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act referred to as the Administrator ) shall complete an evaluation and validation of a rapid testing method for the water quality criteria and standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators described in section 304(a)(9)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (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), and 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 the rapid testing method that will enhance the protection of public health and safety through rapid public notification of any exceeding of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators. (B) Prioritization In developing such guidance, the Administrator shall require the use of the 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 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (26) Rapid Testing Method The term rapid testing method means a method of testing the water quality of coastal recreation waters for which results are available as soon as practicable and not more than 6 hours after the commencement of the rapid testing method in the laboratory. . (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 commencement of the rapid testing method. 6. Notification of Federal, State, and Local Agencies Section 406(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(c) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (5) by striking prompt communication and inserting communication, within 24 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 paragraph (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 exceeding 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) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated by section (6)(3) of this Act)— (A) by striking the posting and inserting the immediate posting ; and (B) by striking and at the end; (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 24 hours of the availability of revised information; 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) ) is amended— (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 and inserting the following: (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) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (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)(2)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1313(i)(2)(A) ) is amended by striking paragraph (1)(A) each place it appears and inserting paragraph (1) . 11. National List of Beaches Section 406(g)(3) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346(g)(3) ) is amended by striking The Administrator and all that follows through the period and inserting Within 12 months after the date of the enactment of the Beach Act of 2013, 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.