and just a lot of other things we have to deal with in the United 

 States of America. 



I happen to believe this is a good piece of legislation, which I 

 hope gets consideration in both the House and the Senate. 



Thank you. 



[The statement of Mr. Castle follows:] 



Statement of Hon. Mike N. Castle, a U.S. Representative from Delaware 



I would like to thank the Chairman for holding a hearing on this vital issue, 

 which not only is a critical environmental protection issue, but also impacts State 

 and local economies. As many of you have visited Delaware's beaches are aware — 

 Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, is known as the Nation's "summer capitol." I rnay be 

 biased, but I believe Delaware is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in this 

 country. Our beautiful beaches are the first State's top tourist attraction, and pro- 

 vide a considerable amount of income to our State and local economies. They are a 

 part of the rich quality of life Delaware provides its citizens and visitors. 



To protect our beaches and swimmers, Delaware has implemented one of the 

 toughest water testing and health programs in the Nation. As the State's former 

 governor, I was proud to oversee a program that far exceeds the recommended 

 guidelines issued by the EPA. Our risk standard is tougher, and our monitoring and 

 testing program is more rigorous. For example, we test water quality 2- to 3-times 

 more often than the recommended EPA guidelines, and our rainfall advisories set 

 standards that vary according to each site — based upon years of bacterial and rain- 

 fall data. 



In fact, our system is so good that the National Park Service is considering adopt- 

 ing components of the program for use nationwide. And Delaware's clean, safe, 

 beautiful beaches are less than 3 hours away. 



Nationally, however, beach closings increased by as much as 30 percent last year. 

 Too often, beach health and safety standards are neglected. The risks of contaminat- 

 ed coastal waters cannot be ignored. Intestinal disorders, hepatitis, and eye infec- 

 tions can be transmitted through water contact and ingestion. Medical and solid 

 waste also must be part of any clean beach solution. 



In addition, I would hope that any binding EPA Program would allow States the 

 flexibility to make proper adjustments for regional and local conditions. Water cur- 

 rents and other site-specific factors can influence risk and monitoring standards. 

 Non-human sources of sewage also contribute to a different risk standard than 

 sewage from industrial waste. Delaware, partly due to its size, has been able to 

 allow the flexibility that is necessary to maximize protection of beaches based upon 

 a wide array of criteria and data. 



I strongly believe we must support efforts to protect America's beaches and swim- 

 mers from waste and disease, and I look forward to the testimony from the distin- 

 guished panel before us this afternoon. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Ortiz. Do we have any other opening statements? 



Mr. Saxton. May I just ask unanimous consent that our Ranking 

 Members Mr. Fields' and Mr. Weldon's statement be included in 

 the record at this point? 



Mr. Ortiz. Hearing no objection, all statements will be included 

 in the record. 



[The statement of Mr. Fields follows:] 



Statement of Hon. Jack Fields, a U.S. Representative from Texas, and 

 Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries 



Chairman Ortiz and Chairman Studds, the Beaches Environmental Assessment, 

 Closure and Health Act has a three-Congress history of controversy, but perhaps the 

 third time will be the charm. 



Millions have flocked to Texas beaches to enjoy Gulf waters, and its recreational 

 shores provide a strong boost to our economy. We don't want people getting sick 

 after a day on our coast. 



However, the coastline of Texas is not only long (over 2,000 miles), but varied. We 

 have major ports, as well as long stretches of sparsely-populated shores. There is a 

 question whether a single standard for testing coastal waters can be applied 



