[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Kirk, and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 1582. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
modify provisions relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join with Senator 
Frank Lautenberg to introduce the Clean Coastal Environment and Public 
Health Act of 2011 to help protect the millions of Americans who 
utilize public beaches each day.
  Unfortunately, every year many beaches go unmonitored or face severe 
delays in receiving test results of levels of contamination in coastal 
waters. Without proper monitoring and notification, thousands of 
citizens risk illness due to growing contamination of our coastal 
waters. Beach closings are a far too regular occurrence along the 52 
public Lake Michigan beaches in my home State of Illinois. According to 
the Illinois Department of Public Health, there were 579 beach closures 
or contamination advisories last year, an 8 percent increase from 2008. 
Beach closures greatly affect the health of our children and families--
a recent University of Chicago study showed swim bans at Chicago's 
beaches due to E. coli levels cost the local economy $2.4 million in 
lost revenue every year. This bipartisan legislation requires rapid 
testing methods to detect water contamination in 4 hours or less, 
faster notification and decision about closures and advisories within 2 
hours. These measures can help save millions of Americans from hospital 
bills or unnecessary beach closings.
  But we must not ignore the more dangerous toxin which has far 
reaching consequences for the most vulnerable members our society--our 
children. Mercury pollution is a serious problem nationwide and is 
particularly concerning since large amounts can accumulate in fish 
tissue. Mercury levels in the Great Lakes, particularly in Lake 
Michigan, are poorly understood. Moving forward, it is critical that we 
revise the outdated monitoring and testing of this dangerous toxin. 
This bill also requires the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency to update existing monitoring protocols and develop 
updated testing recommendations for the existence of mercury in Great 
Lakes coastal waters, sediment and fish.
  Protecting the Great Lakes and our coastal waters is one of my top 
priorities in Congress. I am proud to be the lead cosponsor of this 
important legislation that addresses a key problem facing our Great 
Lakes beaches. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to help 
safeguard our future generations and our most precious natural 
resource.
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