EPA assigns $477K to Puerto Rico, USVI to protect beachgoers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $9.7 million in grant funding for states, Tribes and territories to monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches and to alert the public if unsafe levels of illness-causing bacteria are detected.
Puerto Rico is eligible to receive $321,000, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is eligible for $126,000. The EPA expects to award the grants after all legal and administrative requirements are met.
“Beaches are the crown jewel of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and this funding will help them ensure that the beaches are open for business and that beachgoers can swim and splash without fear of getting sick,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci.
“These grants will help Puerto Rico and the USVI test and monitor to ensure that the public has the information it needs to enjoy a safe time on the beach,” he added.
The funding is authorized under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and is part of the agency’s broader efforts to promote cooperative federalism and ensure access to clean, safe water, the EPA stated.
