Fund the BEACH Act FY2022

Victory Update:  The BEACH Act Grants Program received over $10 million in funding in the FY2022 budget for the first time in this program's 20+ year history.  

Better late than never, President Biden signed the omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government for this year on March 15, 2022 after the latest of several continuing resolutions expired since the federal budget deadline passed last October 1rst.  The spending bill includes $10.119 million for EPA's BEACH Act Grants program that provides federal assistance to coastal states to run their beach water quality monitoring and public notification programs.  With declining funding levels over the last decade, the $500, 000 increase will be welcome news to states that have seen their federal grants shrink over the years.  Resource and funding limitations results in testing gaps in programs that leaves water quality unknown and public health protected in many instances.  Surfrider is doubling down in its efforts to advocate for an even greater increase in funding in FY2023 and is asking Congress to support $15million for the program.

We all rely on regular water quality monitoring at the beach to ensure that the water is clean and safe. A day at the beach should be fun and enjoyable and not cause you or your family to get sick.  

Coastal states rely on federal dollars allocated through the EPA’s BEACH Act Grants Program to help pay for their beach water quality monitoring and public notification programs. Unfortunately, funding for this critical public health program is often at risk, which likewise jeopardizes safe recreation at America’s beaches and coastal, tourism-based economies that rely on public confidence in clean and healthy beaches.   

Without continued federal support through this grant program, many states will be forced to stop testing beaches all together, leaving residents and visitors alike, unknowingly at risk of exposure to bacteria and other disease causing pollutants. Even at historic funding levels of just under $10 million per year, every state and county run beach monitoring program is already resource restricted. Local beach programs are forced to prioritize which beaches they test and to limit the frequency of testing and sampling season, leaving water quality unknown and public health unprotected at many US beaches.

With more federal funding available to support this grant program, coastal states would have more resources to start filling in these data gaps. More beaches could be tested more often so we all have access to the information we need to protect our family's health at the beach.