Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) Tuesday announced that New Jersey will receive $266,000 in federal funding through the BEACH Act to monitor water quality at coastal beaches and notify the public when conditions are unsafe for swimming.
The grant is part of a nationwide $9.7 million investment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help states, tribes and territories keep recreational waters safe and clean.
“New Jersey’s beaches are a cornerstone of our state’s identity, drawing millions of visitors every summer and powering our local economies,” said Pallone. “This funding ensures beachgoers can enjoy our shorelines with confidence, knowing that water quality is being rigorously monitored and that they’ll be informed if there are any health risks. I am fighting to reauthorize and strengthen the BEACH Act so states like New Jersey have the tools to protect public health and preserve our coastal environments for generations to come.”
The funding comes on the heels of bipartisan legislation Pallone helped introduce earlier this year to reauthorize and expand the BEACH Act, which has played a critical role since 2000 in helping states like New Jersey test recreational waters and warn the public of potential contamination.
The reauthorization bill increases eligible uses of grant funds to include identification of pollution sources, a change Pallone championed to help communities address contamination at its root.
