Pursuit's Take
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this evaluation to determine how grants under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (BEACH Act) assist states, territories and tribes in monitoring water quality of coastal recreation waters, and notifying the public of contamination events.
The BEACH Act amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) to improve the quality of coastal recreation waters and for “other purposes.” According to the report, “Serious risks to the health of recreational swimmers, as well as serious economic consequences, can occur from sewer overflow runoff into coastal waters; water treatment plant malfunctions; stormwater runoff after rainfall; waste from boats; leaking septic systems; or livestock, pet and wildlife waste. ”
However, the EPA has not submitted the required reports since 2006. But, since 2013, the EPA has stopped requesting funds because the program is “mature,” and it recommends that funding is no longer provided for the BEACH act. However, Congress has continued to fund the program.
Take Homes
The EPA has stopped requesting funds for the BEACH act. However, Congress has continued to fund the program.