COLUMBIA – South Carolinians are encouraged to comment on beach monitoring and public notification under the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
“The BEACH Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to award grants to states, tribes and territories to implement beach water quality monitoring programs at coastal and Great Lakes recreational beaches,” said Shannon Berry, beach monitoring coordinator in DHEC’s Bureau of Water. “These grants also support programs to inform the public about the risk of exposure to disease-causing microorganisms in the waters at beaches.”
Berry said DHEC monitors the quality of water at the state’s beaches every year.
“When bacteria levels in the water are too high, the public is notified by advisories posted on DHEC’s Web site and in the local media,” Berry said. “Sampling will continue daily until water quality is again within acceptable levels. In 2007, 98 percent of South Carolina’s beach days were advisory-free.”
Berry said comments are being sought on the following components of the beach monitoring and public notification program:
- Beach evaluation and classification process, including a list of waters to be monitored and beach ranking.
- Sampling design and monitoring plan, including sampling location and frequency.
- Public notification and risk communication plan, including methods to notify the public of swimming advisory.
Berry said South Carolina is one of 35 states receiving the EPA grant.
For additional information about the program or to comment contact Shannon Berry at (803) 898-3541 or at berrysk@dhec.sc.gov.