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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted $258,000 to New Jersey to support water quality monitoring at the state's beaches. The announcement was made by EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia at Bradley Beach, NJ, on Thursday (June 20). The funding is part of the EPA's efforts to protect the health of beachgoers and will assist New Jersey in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches.
"This funding helps keep beaches and coastal waters clean so that people can have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that New Jersey coastlines have to offer," said Garcia. "EPA funding is vital for successful beach monitoring and notification programs."
The grant is part of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, under which the 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 notify the public by posting beach advisories or closings.