But San Diego's experience points up the necessity for consistent 

 beach water quaUty standards. H.R. 31 would provide that consist- 

 ency. And again, I commend Congressman Hughes for his dihgence 

 in bringing this issue before us. 



I look forward to working with you, Congressman Hughes, and 

 with the other Representatives not just from New Jersey but the 

 other States in a team to make sure that this happens and happens 

 quickly. 



Thank you very much. 



STATEMENT OF THE HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM DELAWARE 



Mr. Ortiz. Governor Castle? 



Mr. Castle. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for the oppor- 

 tunity to say something. 



I would like to submit my statement for the record, too. But to 

 all my friends here from New Jersey, we appreciate all that you 

 are doing because we are not very far away from you in Delaware 

 and what you do impacts us. 



The elimination of ocean dumping and some other things which 

 have happened in the last 10 years have done a tremendous 

 amount to improve the waters in our areas. I think most people in 

 this room probably know Rehobeth Beach. If you don't, go down 

 there this weekend. You will enjoy it. 



We believe Delaware's beaches are among the most beautiful in 

 the country. It is our number one tourist attraction. 



To protect our beaches and swimmers, Delaware has implement- 

 ed one of the toughest water testing and health programs in the 

 Nation. As a governor, I was proud to oversee the program that far 

 exceeds the recommended limits issued by the EPA. 



Our risk standard is tougher and our monitoring and testing pro- 

 gram is more rigorous. For example, we test water quality two to 

 three times more often than the recommended EPA guidelines, and 

 our rainfall advisories set standards that vary according to each 

 sight, based on years of bacterial and rainfall data. 



Our system is so good, the National Park Service is considering 

 adopting components of the program nationwide. Delaware's clean, 

 safe beaches are pretty close to all of us, too. 



I would say this: None of that came easily. We went through 

 some experimentation and had tremendous problems with beach 

 closings, with testing systems which did not work, with almost any 

 problem you could possibly name. It was only with a lot of experi- 

 mentation and only in the last five years were we able to work out 

 those problems which exist. Now we think we have a solution 

 which satisfies us. 



I support the legislation certainly in concept. I hope it will pro- 

 vide us with enough flexibility to make proper adjustments in ac- 

 cordance with geographical areas in the ocean and other water con- 

 ditions which exist because of currents in any particular circum- 

 stance. But I strongly support this. There has been a lot of illness 

 and a lot of problems as a result of it, the problems of California, 

 which, fortunately, we don't share, coming from another country. 



