With the summer beach season in high gear, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England Administrator Robert Varney has announced a grant of $209,650 to the Rhode Island Department of Health for improving and expanding water quality monitoring and notification at the state’s public saltwater beaches.
"Rhode Island's beaches are one of our greatest resources, and improving the water quality will ensure that they are available to all residents for years to come," said Gov. Donald L. Carcieri. "This grant will help the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management monitor pollution and high bacteria counts and fund programs to eliminate the causes of beach closures."
The funding was made available through the federal Beach Act of 2000, which requires coastal states to monitor beaches and notify the public about water quality. Including this year’s grant, Rhode Island has received $1,546,600 since 2001 to implement its program. The grant is an essential element of the EPA’s broader beach initiative to reduce pollution levels that cause chronic beach closures. Including grants to other New England coastal states, this grant brings the cumulative amount awarded in the region to more than $8 million.
The grant announcement took place at Warwick’s Oakland Beach Park, one of the state’s oldest summer resorts and a beach that has been closed at least six times this beach season. Since Memorial Day, more than a quarter of Rhode Island’s 69 saltwater beaches have experienced closures, some multiple times.
“This grant is key for helping the public know when it is safe to swim at the beach,” Varney said, “but we don’t want to stop at letting you know when the water quality is not meeting standards. The goal is to improve the water quality at our beaches. The beach season is short and precious in New England, and we are working with Rhode Island to ensure water quality that lets everyone make the most of it."
"The Department of Health is pleased to receive this annual grant," said Director of Health David R. Gifford, M.D., MPH. "The primary goal of the beachwater monitoring program is to ensure that Rhode Island beaches are safe for swimming. This funding will also give our staff the necessary resources to evaluate and potentially identify causes of chronic water contamination."
The Rhode Island Department of Health monitors 69 marine beaches. In 2007, 17 out of 69 monitored beaches were closed for a total of 69 days--a significant decrease from the 22 beaches closed for 260 days in 2006.
