Bradley Beach – This morning, Congressman Frank Pallone joined NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, EPA Region II Administrator Lisa Garcia, and environmental advocates, including Environment New Jersey and Surfrider Foundation, to announce new BEACH Act grant funding to assist New Jersey in water quality monitoring at the Shore. They also emphasized the need to pass the bipartisan BEACH Act (HR 7203).
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Pallone earlier this year, will reauthorize the program for five years at $30 million. It expands eligible uses of BEACH Act grants to include identification of sources of contamination. Currently, BEACH Act funds are eligible for monitoring and notification of contamination but not for identifying sources. Adding this capability aims to address the root causes of contamination issues that BEACH Act funds are already used to monitor.
The legislation also broadens eligible testing locations to include shallow recreational waters adjacent to beaches where children and adults typically swim and play. This expansion aims to enhance local decision-making and require the EPA to consider innovations in rapid testing, especially for same-day results.
April Nicklaus, a Campaign Organizer for Environment New Jersey, spoke at this morning’s event: “Our waters should be safe for swimming, yet too often pathogens from pollution put our health at risk. The Shore right now is already packed, especially in this heat wave. Now is the time to provide federal funding to ensure that we can always let the public know when it’s safe – and not safe – to get in the water."
Nicklaus highlighted that fecal contamination from urban runoff, sewage overflows, and factory farms can contain pathogens threatening swimmers' health or forcing beach closures. According to EPA data compiled in their Safe for Swimming report from 2022, 1,761 out of 3,192 tested beaches nationwide (55%) experienced at least one day with potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination. In addition, approximately one out of every nine beaches tested nationwide had potentially unsafe levels on at least a quarter of testing days.
"The numbers were better at the Jersey Shore," Nicklaus noted. "For 217 tested beaches there only 31 (14%) had potentially unsafe levels of fecal indicator bacteria."
Nicklaus emphasized that stopping pollution at its source requires investing in stronger storm wastewater infrastructure and preventing runoff pollution while maintaining regular testing.
“That’s why we’re so thrilled that Representative Pallone is working with other representatives such as Rep. Andy Kim and Rep. Josh Gottheimer to pass this common-sense bipartisan bill,” she said.
Nicklaus called for increased funding: “Congress authorized $30 million for beach testing but has only provided communities with one-third of that amount. We need to fully fund the BEACH Act.”
By fully funding the act, Nicklaus concluded: "We can easily see where our water is safe for swimming."
