February 11, 2025
Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to grants for beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025
or the BEACH Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Coastal Recreation Water Quality Monitoring And Notification
(a) Program Development and Implementation Grants
Section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by inserting , including nearby shallow upstream waters,
after coastal recreation waters
; and
(ii)
by inserting or present on
after adjacent to
;
(B)
in paragraph (3)(A)—
(i)
in clause (i), by striking and
at the end;
(ii)
by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
(iii)
by inserting after clause (i) the following:
(ii)
in the case of a State that uses such grant to identify specific sources of contamination pursuant to paragraph (5), any data relating to such identified sources of contamination; and; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(5) Identification of specific sources of contamination
A State or local government receiving a grant under this subsection may use such grant to identify specific sources of contamination for coastal recreation waters, including nearby shallow upstream waters, adjacent to or present on beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public.;
(2)
in subsection (g)(1)—
(A)
by inserting , including nearby shallow upstream waters,
after coastal recreation waters
; and
(B)
by inserting or present on
after adjacent to
; and
(3)
in subsection (i), by striking $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005
and inserting $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029
.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
Section 8 of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–284; 114 Stat. 877) is amended by striking 2001 through 2005
and inserting 2025 through 2029
.
Sec. 3. Guidance
In providing guidance to States and local governments receiving grants under section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall ensure that such guidance reflects innovations in testing technologies for water contamination.