Feb. 15, 2001--U.S. EPA Region 5 and the City of Chicago sponsored a three-day conference Feb. 6 to 8 to discuss the science and technology behind beach monitoring and closure, beach management, the effect of lake levels on beaches, and resources to support beach programs.
The conference attracted 250 attendees from federal, state, and local public health and environmental agencies, as well as private organizations. Topics included beach monitoring and closure, the risks of E. Coli exposure, technical and funding resources to support beach management, and the importance of the recently passed federal BEACH Act, which established a national program for monitoring beach water quality and notifying the public of unsafe conditions.
The conference also kicked off an ongoing networking forum involving Great Lakes beach managers, regulatory officials, and interested stakeholders. The Great Lakes Beach Network will provide information and technical assistance to support Great Lakes beach management.
For more information on the conference, visit http://www.epa.gov/ost/beaches/glinfo.html on the Internet.
