EPA to award Rhode Island $228,000 to support water quality monitoring at beaches
Publilshed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
BOSTON (Aug. 11, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $228,000 grant to the Rhode Island Department of Health to protect the health of beachgoers. This funding is part of $10.6 million in grants, announced in May, to help coastal and Great Lakes communities. The funding will support water quality monitoring and public notification programs for beaches.
“With so many beach closures across New England this summer, people want to know ‘where can I go swimming in clean water?’,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Today’s grant will advance environmental justice in communities vulnerable to and overburdened by water quality impacts by supporting critical monitoring and notification programs. We will continue to work closely with our state, municipal and local partners to deliver information that people need to make good decisions about their health. The results of monitoring can also help us enforce environmental laws and make investments, so beach closures become a thing of the past.”
This grant helps fund programs to ensure that beachgoers know when our coastal waters are safe for swimming and recreation.
Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, EPA awards grants to eligible state, Tribal, and territorial applicants to help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming, these agencies or their local partners notify the public and post beach warnings or closings.
Since 2001, EPA has awarded nearly $216 million in BEACH Act grants, including over $25 million to New England states, and almost $4.7 million to Rhode Island, to test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria and help with public notification and identification of the problem. This program is essential for protecting the health of beachgoers across the country.
“Our coasts are an important part of the Ocean State’s economy and culture,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “This federal funding will support environmental monitoring to ensure that Rhode Islanders and visitors can safely enjoy the water all summer long.”
As Rhode Islanders head to the beach this summer, we all deserve to enjoy our state’s waters with peace of mind,” said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will be used to monitor water quality to ensure Rhode Island beaches are safe for everyone to enjoy.”
EPA’s 2023 BEACH Act grant funding will be allocated to the following New England states, contingent upon their meeting the eligibility requirements:
EPA Region 1
Rhode Island $228,000
New Hampshire $214,000
Maine $272,000
Massachusetts $275,000
Connecticut $236,000
More information on BEACH Act grants.
Check the relevant state, Tribal, or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.
Rhode Island Department of Health Beaches
Read the full article at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-award-rhode-island-228000-support-water-quality-monitoring-beaches
