[StBernard] $323, 000 Awarded to Monitor Coastal Beaches in Louisiana

[Westley Annis]

$323,000 Awarded to Monitor Coastal Beaches in Louisiana 

 


(DALLAS - Oct. 1, 2010)  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded
$323,000 to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH).  The
funds will aid in the coastal monitoring and notification program for beach
safety on Louisiana beaches.     

  

The project supports aspects of EPA's Strategic Plan: Clean and Safe Water.
It will develop and implement programs for monitoring and notification for
coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access
that are used by the public.  The EPA will maintain relationships with
regional states to protect public health. 

  

The LDHH Beach Monitoring Program tests water at 27 beach sites along the
Louisiana coast to determine whether the water quality meets EPA criteria.
This is part of the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal
Health (BEACH) Act of 2000.  The BEACH Act, an amendment to the Clean Water
Act, requires all coastal states to develop programs for effective water
quality monitoring and public notification at coastal recreational beaches. 

  

In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, and for the convenience of citizens and
tourists, the LDHH has added to its Beach Monitoring website information
regarding the closure of beaches impacted by the oil. 

  

Local governments and the state parks department are responsible for open
and closures of beaches.  The LDHH tests beach waters for bacterial
contamination and issues advisories for swimming areas which exceed EPA
levels and shares with local officials.   

  

Additional information on EPA grants:
http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm
<http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm>  

  

More about activities in EPA Region 6:  http://www.epa.gov/region6
<http://www.epa.gov/region6>  

  

EPA audio file is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/oct2010.html
<http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/oct2010.html>  

  

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