BEACH Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-508
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2025-02-11
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 or the BEACH Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and expands an existing program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that awards grants to states and local governments to (1) monitor the water quality of coastal recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public; and (2) notify the public, local governments, and the EPA when the water is not safe for recreational activities.</p><p>Specifically, the bill expands the program to allow the EPA to award grants for identifying sources of contamination (i.e., pathogens) for coastal recreation waters. It also allows grants to be used for monitoring and notification of contamination in (1) shallow waters upstream from recreational waters, and (2) recreational waters on beaches.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 508 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 11, 2025 Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Tillis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to grants for beach monitoring, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 or the BEACH Act of 2025 . 2. Coastal Recreation Water Quality Monitoring And Notification (a) Program Development and Implementation Grants Section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting , including nearby shallow upstream waters, after coastal recreation waters ; and (ii) by inserting or present on after adjacent to ; (B) in paragraph (3)(A)— (i) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; (ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and (iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following: (ii) in the case of a State that uses such grant to identify specific sources of contamination pursuant to paragraph (5), any data relating to such identified sources of contamination; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (5) Identification of specific sources of contamination A State or local government receiving a grant under this subsection may use such grant to identify specific sources of contamination for coastal recreation waters, including nearby shallow upstream waters, adjacent to or present on beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public. ; (2) in subsection (g)(1)— (A) by inserting , including nearby shallow upstream waters, after coastal recreation waters ; and (B) by inserting or present on after adjacent to ; and (3) in subsection (i), by striking $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and inserting $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 8 of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 ( Public Law 106–284 ; 114 Stat. 877) is amended by striking 2001 through 2005 and inserting 2025 through 2029 . 3. Guidance In providing guidance to States and local governments receiving grants under section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1346 ), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall ensure that such guidance reflects innovations in testing technologies for water contamination.