EPA publishes guidance for beach grants

July 25, 2002 -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared a National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants to help states, tribes, and local governments monitor beach waters and promptly notify the public of health hazards.

The guidance also outlines the eligibility requirements for grants that will help states and tribes operate their programs. The document describes: human health concerns about microbial contamination of recreational waters, how to prioritize waters for monitoring, how to monitor and assess recreational waters, and how to communicate possible risks to the public.

You can get a copy of the guidance from EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches or by requesting EPA-823-B-02-001 from the Office of Water Resources Center at 202-260-7786.