The Policy Greenhouse

Source: Summary of the Beach Act

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act was passed in 2000 in order to give the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) the clearance to conduct microbiological tests on domestic waters (like the Great Lakes and Public Beaches). BEACH Act grants also give support for developing and implementing programs to notify the public of the potential for exposure to disease-causing microorganisms in coastal recreation waters. Finally, the act also allows the EPA to provide technical assistance to States and local governments for the assessment and monitoring of floatable materials. This act was designed to reduce the risk of disease in America’s coastal recreation waters and I think it does a great job of that. For example, the EPA’s Beach Advisory and Closing Online Notification (BEACON) system provides details regarding the pollution status of different recreational bodies of water in the USA. This makes it very easy for someone to check if a body of water is safe to swim in. The microbiological testing is also a great call on the EPA’s part. These tests working in tandem with the grants make it almost impossible for any disease to be spread through recreational waters. So all in all, this act seems to carry out its purpose perfectly.