Legis Daily

A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1622| Senate 
| Updated: 7/24/2017
Robert Menendez

Robert Menendez

Democratic Senator

New Jersey

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Beach Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize through FY2021 a grant program for monitoring, and notifying the public of, any pathogens in coastal recreation waters bordering public beaches. The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 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 such coastal recreation 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. The applicable state or local government must communicate the presence of any pathogens within two hours of receipt of a water quality sample. 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 share 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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 26, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2755
Introduced in House
Jul 24, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 24, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • May 26, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2755
    Introduced in House


  • July 24, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 24, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2755: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
Air qualityAquatic ecologyClimate change and greenhouse gasesEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine pollutionOutdoor recreationSeashores and lakeshoresWater quality

A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1622| Senate 
| Updated: 7/24/2017
Beach Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize through FY2021 a grant program for monitoring, and notifying the public of, any pathogens in coastal recreation waters bordering public beaches. The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 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 such coastal recreation 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. The applicable state or local government must communicate the presence of any pathogens within two hours of receipt of a water quality sample. 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 share 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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 26, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2755
Introduced in House
Jul 24, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 24, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • May 26, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2755
    Introduced in House


  • July 24, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 24, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Robert Menendez

Robert Menendez

Democratic Senator

New Jersey

Environment and Public Works Committee

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2755: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Air qualityAquatic ecologyClimate change and greenhouse gasesEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine pollutionOutdoor recreationSeashores and lakeshoresWater quality