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1950b. This standard Is based on a maximum total coliform 

 concentration. Whan this level is exceeded, beaches are either 

 posted or closed. Although the standard was not developed using 

 modern health risk techniques, it has proven to be very useful in 

 assessing and maintaining a safe and sanitary condition in our 

 coastal waters. 



The primary problems we face with raapect to unsafe bacterial 

 quality in saltwater recreational areas stem from accidental 

 releases of inadequately treated wastewater as a result of sewer 

 line or outfall breaks, urban and storm water runoff, and from 

 the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater 

 from outside of the United States. For example, several times 

 each year, popular bathing beaches in Southern California have 

 had to be closed for various periods of time due to the northward 

 flow of untreated wastewater discharged by the City of Tijuana 

 into the ocean or the Tijuana River. 



We are in full agreement that a need exists to fully evaluate the 

 health risk associated with coastal water recreation and the need 

 to develop methods to effectively monitor the quality of our 

 ocean waters. We are pleased that HR 31 contains language that 

 would require EPA to evaluate the risks associated with different 

 pathogenic organisms, their fate in the marine environment, and 

 the potential use of indicator organisms that could effectively 

 and inexpensively be used for monitoring purposes. Considerable 

 research into the health risks associated with ingestion of 

 certain chemicals has bean conducted, but little knowledge is 



