Monday, January 14, 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA Money and Support Help Make Beach Visits Safe Contact: Shakeba Carter-Jenkins, (202) 564-4355 / Carter-Jenkins.Shakeba@epa.gov (Washington, D.C. – January 14, 2008) While it is still too cold to go to the beach in most parts of the country, EPA works year-round on ensuring beach visits are well-planned and safe for everyone. By providing states an additional $9.75 million in beach grants in 2008, EPA is helping states continue to monitor water quality at beaches and notify the public of beach warnings and closings when bacteria levels rise too high. “When it’s finally time to hit the shores this summer, beachgoers will be both better protected and better informed,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “With this additional funding, we will continue to improve water quality and ensure that waves are the only thing to catch at America’s beaches.” The funds are available to 35 eligible states, territories and tribes as grant money. This is the eighth year grants are being made available since Congress passed the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act in October 2000, bringing the total to more than $71 million awarded to states. EPA estimates Americans make 910 million trips to coastal areas each year, spending about $44 billion. A decade ago, state and local monitoring and notification programs differed across the country. These grants are designed to consistently protect and inform the public before swimming at beach waters. In addition to supporting stronger beach programs nationwide, EPA is also focusing on developing new technologies to more quickly identify possible bacteria contamination at beaches. The science is evolving, and EPA’s research program involves epidemiological studies at a variety of beaches to assess new analytical approaches. Another way EPA protects and educates the public about beach safety is through the SunWise Program, an environmental and health education program that teaches children and their caregivers how to guard against sun overexposure any time of year. Because skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., practicing sun safety year-round is the key to prevention. Remember to wear protective lenses, a hat, and sunscreen; use the Ultraviolet (UV) Index as a planning tool; and seek shade between the hours of 10 and 4 when UV radiation is at its peak. It is important to use extra caution near water, sand, and snow because those surfaces reflect the sun’s damaging rays. More information about grant awards: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches  Sun safety: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise  To use the UV Index for planning purposes: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html