EPA Announces Millions to Help Protect Beachgoers

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $9.75 million grant to help make sure beachgoers do not get sick from contaminated water.

It revealed the funding on Wednesday, designed to help Great Lakes and coastal communities all over the country.

"Every summer Americans flock to oceanside and Great Lakes beaches to enjoy recreation time with family and friends, making these important destinations as well as economic and tourism engines for our economy," Acting EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott said.

"Protecting water quality at beaches is a priority for EPA and with these grants, we are helping our state, Tribal, and local partners monitor water quality to ensure it is safe for residents and visitors."

The funding means that states, tribes and territories will be able to apply for money to carry out testing in beach water for illness-causing bacteria.

To be eligible, the places must have coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches used by the public. They also have to have a water quality standards program in place, with monitoring, assessing and notifying standards meeting certain criteria.

Provided they qualify as eligible, the money, made available to the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, will be allocated to certain states, tribes and territories in 10 EPA regions.

The following places have been given access to the grant money:

EPA Region 1

• Connecticut: $206,000
• Maine: $254,000
• Massachusetts: $254,000
• New Hampshire: $194,000
• Rhode Island: $210,000

EPA Region 2

• New Jersey: $258,000
• New York: $315,000
• Puerto Rico: $319,000
• U.S. Virgin Islands: $302,000

EPA Region 3

• Delaware: $209,000
• Maryland: $258,000
• Pennsylvania: $214,000
• Virginia: $263,000

EPA Region 4

• Alabama: $260,000
• Florida: $478,000
• Georgia: $279,000
• Mississippi: $256,000
• North Carolina: $293,000
• South Carolina: $289,000

EPA Region 5

• Illinois: $232,000
• Indiana: $205,000
• Michigan: $260,000
• Minnesota: $203,000
• Ohio: $216,000
• Wisconsin: $220,000
• Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians: $50,000
• Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe: $50,000
• Keweenaw Bay Indian Community: $50,000

EPA Region 6

• Louisiana: $347,000
• Texas: $373,000

EPA Region 9

• American Samoa: $302,000
• California: $477,000
• Guam: $302,000
• Hawaii: $319,000
• Northern Mariana Islands: $303,000

EPA Region 10

• Alaska: $161,029
• Oregon: $235,103
• Washington: $280,192
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community: $53,676.