S. 508 — BEACH Act of 2025

This section revises the coastal recreation water monitoring and notification grant program (i.e., BEACH Act program under the Clean Water Act) as follows: (1) expands the scope of covered coastal recreation waters to include nearby shallow upstream waters and contamination present on beaches or similar points of public access (previously limited to waters adjacent to such points); (2) authorizes grant recipients to use funds to identify specific sources of contamination in those waters; (3) requires such grantees to report related data to the EPA; and (4) reauthorizes appropriations of $30 million annually for FY2025 through FY2029 (previously for FY2001 through FY2005). (Thus, the program, which supports state and local monitoring of pathogens in beach waters and public health notifications of exceedances, receives new funding after expiring in FY2005.)

This section directs the EPA Administrator, in providing guidance to states and local governments receiving grants under CWA §406 (33 U.S.C. 1346) for coastal recreation water monitoring and notification programs, to ensure that such guidance reflects innovations in testing technologies for water contamination. (As background, these grants support state and local programs to monitor pathogens in beach waters and notify the public of health risks.)