Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act

Two versions of the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009 are working their way through Congress. Both have gone through the committee process and are recommended for votes by the full chambers.

The House version, H.R. 2093, amends the testing and reporting requirements in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, extends funding of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 877) to 2013 and calls for the determination of the impact of climate change on the pollution of coastal recreational waters.

The Senate version, S. 878, similarly amends the testing and reporting requirements in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and requires a study on the long-term impact of climate change on pollution of coastal recreation waters, but adds a requirement for a study on the impact of algae on coastal recreation waters.