42 



TESTIMONY OF 



MARGARET J. STASIKOWSKI 



U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 



BEFORE THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY, GULF OF MEXICO, 



AND THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 



AND THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES 



U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTA TIVES 



Good afternoon. Chairmen and Members of the Subcommittees. I am 

 Margaret J. Stasikowski, Director of the Health and Ecological Criteria Division, 

 Office of Science and Technology, in the Office of Water, U.S. Environmental 

 Protection Agency (EPA). I am accompanied today by Stephen A. Schaub, Senior 

 Microbiologist in my Division. Thank you for the invitation to be here today and to 

 have the opportunity to discuss H.R. 31, the Beaches Environmental Assessment, 

 Closure, and Health Act of 1993. 



Introduction 



Everyone should be able to enjoy a day swimming at our nation's beaches 

 without having to worry about health risks from infectious diseases. The Agency 

 understands the importance of our coastal waters as a resource for recreation by 

 visitors from around the world. Tourism at our coastal areas is also important 

 commercially as American and international visitors alike generate billions of dollars 

 annually. As the Federal agency with primary responsibility for implementing the 

 Clean Water Act, EPA is fully committed to achieving the gDal of maintaining 

 fishable and swimmable waters nationwide. 



