Millions upon millions of Americans escape to the North American coasts to visit beaches and swim in the oceans. Unfortunately, this past year there were over 20,000 beach closures and advisories for polluted ocean waters from urban runoff. Daily, we rely on water quality monitoring to assure that these ocean waters are safe to swim in. In the recently released EPA budget proposal it is states that Obama would eliminate the program that provides grants to “develop and implement program to inform the public about the risk of exposure to disease-causing microorganism in the water at the nation’s beaches.”
After the Federal Beach Act was passed in 2000, water quality monitoring made big advancements in setting standards and funding monitoring programs to ensure the safety of ocean swimmers, spongers, and surfers. However, the new proposed budget by the Obama administration states “In this difficult financial climate, the Agency will eliminate the Beaches Grant Program with a reduction of $9.9 million in FY 2013.” It continues to explain that ocean water monitoring continues to be important but state and local government programs must continue beach monitoring without federal support.
Some states, like California, are willing to bend over backwards to protect the ocean quality. But Jon Devine, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s water program, told the Los Angeles Times that not all states are going to go out of their way to protect their beaches or even to notify beachgoers that the water isn’t safe or monitored.
10 million dollars spread across all states seems like a measly and worthwhile investment, seeing that coastal tourism generated over 70 billion dollars and supported 1.7 million jobs in 2004 alone (the Inertia). Because this budget plan is hot off the press and likely to undergo many changes, it is uncertain what the local and state effects will be. Nonetheless, this cut is alarming to say the least. One thing is sure, if the program does not continue to be federally funded, all ocean users will be at risk.
Don’t sit back. This issue is in our hands. Please sign the Surfrider Foundation’s petition here!
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
