Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009

Water pollution source identification

(a)

Monitoring Protocols

Section 406(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking methods for monitoring and inserting protocols for monitoring that are most likely to detect pathogenic contamination. (b)

Source Tracking

Section 406(b) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(b)) is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and (2)by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

Source identification programs

In carrying out a monitoring and notification program, a State or local government may develop and implement a coastal recreation waters pollution source identification and tracking program for coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public and are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators.

(c)

Authorization of Appropriations

Section 406(i) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(i)) is amended by striking $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and inserting $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Funding for Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act

Section 8 of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 877) is amended by striking 2005 and inserting 2014.

State reports

Section 406(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (as redesignated by section 2(b)(1) of this Act) is amended by striking public and inserting public and all environmental agencies of the State with authority to prevent or treat sources of pathogenic contamination in coastal recreation waters.

Use of rapid testing methods

(a)

Contents of State and local government programs

Section 406(c)(4)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(c)(4)(A)) is amended by striking methods and inserting methods, including a rapid testing method after the last day of the one-year period following the date of validation of that rapid testing method by the Administrator,. (b)

Revised criteria

Section 304(a)(9)(A) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)(A)) is amended by striking methods, as appropriate and inserting methods, including rapid testing methods. (c)

Validation and use of rapid testing methods

(1)

Validation of rapid testing methods

Not later than October 15, 2012, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act referred to as the Administrator) shall complete an evaluation and validation of a rapid testing method for the water quality criteria and standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators described in section 304(a)(9)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)(A)). (2)

Guidance for use of rapid testing methods

(A)

In general

Not later than 180 days after completion of the validation under paragraph (1), and after providing notice and an opportunity for public comment, the Administrator shall publish guidance for the use at coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public of the rapid testing method that will enhance the protection of public health and safety through rapid public notification of any exceeding of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators. (B)

Prioritization

In developing such guidance, the Administrator shall require the use of the rapid testing method at those beaches or similar points of access that are the most used by the public. (d)

Definition

Section 502 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1362) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(26)

Rapid testing method

The term rapid testing method means a method of testing the water quality of coastal recreation waters for which results are available as soon as practicable and not more than 6 hours after the commencement of the rapid testing method in the laboratory.

(e)

Revisions to rapid testing methods

(1)

In general

Upon completion of the validation required under subsection (c)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall identify and review potential rapid testing methods for existing water quality criteria for pathogens and pathogen indicators for coastal recreation waters. (2)

Revisions to rapid testing methods

If a rapid testing method identified under paragraph (1) will make results available in less time and improve the accuracy and reproducibility of results when compared to the existing rapid testing method, the Administrator shall complete an evaluation and validation of the rapid testing method as expeditiously as practicable. (3)

Reporting requirement

Upon completion of the review required under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register the results of the review, including information on any potential rapid testing method proposed for evaluation and validation under paragraph (2). (4)

Declaration of goals for rapid testing methods

It is a national goal that by 2017, a rapid testing method for testing water quality of coastal recreation waters be developed that can produce accurate and reproducible results in not more than 2 hours after commencement of the rapid testing method.

Notification of Federal, State, and local agencies

Section 406(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(c)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (5) by striking prompt communication and inserting communication, within 24 hours of the receipt of the results of a water quality sample,; (2)in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5)— (A)by inserting (i) in the case of any State in which the Administrator is administering the program under section 402, before the Administrator the first place it appears; and (B)by inserting at the end the following:

(ii)in the case of any State other than a State to which clause (i) applies, all agencies of the State government with authority to require the prevention or treatment of the sources of coastal recreation water pollution; and

;

(3)by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and (4)by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:

(6)measures for an annual report to the Administrator, in such form as the Administrator determines appropriate, on the occurrence, nature, location, pollutants involved, and extent of any exceeding of applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators;

Content of State and local programs

Section 406(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(c)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (7) (as redesignated by section 6(3) of this Act)— (A)by striking the posting and inserting the immediate posting; and (B)by striking and at the end; (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) (as redesignated by section 6(3) of this Act) and inserting a semicolon; and (3)by adding at the end the following:

(9)the availability of a geographic information system database that such State or local government program shall use to inform the public about coastal recreation waters and that— (A)is publicly accessible and searchable on the Internet; (B)is organized by beach or similar point of access; (C)identifies applicable water quality standards, monitoring protocols, sampling plans and results, and the number and cause of coastal recreation water closures and advisory days; and (D)is updated within 24 hours of the availability of revised information; and (10)measures to ensure that closures or advisories are made or issued within 2 hours after the receipt of the results of a water quality sample that exceeds applicable water quality standards for pathogens and pathogen indicators.

Compliance review

Section 406(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(h)) is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (2)by moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right; (3)by striking In the and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

In the

; and

(4)by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Compliance review

On or before July 31 of each calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall— (A)prepare a written assessment of compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements of this section for each State and local government and of compliance with conditions of each grant made under this section to a State or local government; (B)notify the State or local government of such assessment; and (C)make each of the assessments available to the public in a searchable database on the Internet on or before December 31 of such calendar year. (3)

Corrective action

If a State or local government that the Administrator notifies under paragraph (2) is not in compliance with any requirement or grant condition described in paragraph (2) fails to take such action as may be necessary to comply with such requirement or condition within one year after the date of notification, any grants made under subsection (b) to the State or local government, after the last day of such one-year period and while the State or local government is not in compliance with all requirements and grant conditions described in paragraph (2), shall have a Federal share of not to exceed 50 percent. (4)

GAO review

Not later than December 31 of the third calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Comptroller General shall conduct a review of the activities of the Administrator under paragraphs (2) and (3) during the first and second calendar years beginning after such date of enactment and submit to Congress a report on the results of such review.

Publication of coastal recreation waters pathogen list

Section 304(a)(9) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(C)

Publication of pathogen and pathogen indicator list

Upon publication of the new or revised water quality criteria under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a list of all pathogens and pathogen indicators studied under section 104(v).

10.

Adoption of new or revised criteria and standards

Section 303(i)(2)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(i)(2)(A)) is amended by striking paragraph (1)(A) each place it appears and inserting paragraph (1).

11.

National list of beaches

Section 406(g)(3) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346(g)(3)) is amended by striking The Administrator and all that follows through the period and inserting Within 12 months after the date of the enactment of the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009, and biennially thereafter, the Administrator shall update the list described in paragraph (1)..

12.

Impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters

(a)

Study

The Administrator shall conduct a study on the long-term impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters. (b)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (2)

Information on potential contaminant impacts

The report shall include information on the potential impacts of pathogenic contamination on ground and surface water resources as well as public and ecosystem health in coastal communities. (3)

Monitoring

The report shall address monitoring required to document and assess changing conditions of coastal water resources, recreational waters, and ecosystems and review the current ability to assess and forecast impacts associated with long-term change. (4)

Federal actions

The report shall highlight necessary Federal actions to help advance the availability of information and tools to assess and mitigate these effects in order to protect public and ecosystem health. (5)

Consultation

In developing the report, the Administrator shall work in consultation with agencies active in the development of the National Water Quality Monitoring Network and the implementation of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy.

13.

Impact of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters

(a)

Study

The Administrator shall conduct a study to review the available scientific information pertaining to the impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters. (b)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (2)

Impacts

Such report shall include information on any adverse impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters, including adverse impacts caused by algal blooms resulting from excess nutrients. (3)

Recommendations

Such report shall include recommendations for action to address adverse impacts of excess nutrients and algal blooms on coastal recreation waters, including the establishment and implementation of numeric water quality criteria for nutrients. (4)

Consultation

In developing such report, the Administrator shall consult with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies (including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), States, and local government entities.