92 



2 



1 (1) the Nation's beaches are a valuable public 



2 resource used for recreation by millions of people an- 



3 nually; 



4 (2) the beaches of coastal States are hosts to 



5 many out-of-State and international visitors; 



6 (3) tourism in the coastal zone generates bil- 



7 lions of dollars annually; 



8 (4) increased population has contributed to the 



9 decline in the environmental quality of coastal wa- 



10 ters; 



11 (5) pollution in coastal waters is not restricted 



12 by State and other political boundaries; 



13 (6) each coastal State has its own method of 



14 testing the quality of its coastal recreation waters, 



15 providing varying degrees of protection to the public; 



16 and 



17 (7) the adoption of standards by coastal States 



18 for monitoring the quality of coastal recreation wa- 



19 ters, and the posting of signs at beaches notifying 



20 the public during periods when the standards are ex- 



21 ceeded, would enhance public health and safety. 



22 (b) Purpose. — The purpose of this Act is to require 



23 uniform procedures for beach testing and monitoring to 



24 protect public safety and improve the environmental qual- 



25 ity of coastal recreation waters. 



•HR 31 IH 



