This agreement funds the recipient's beach monitoring and notification program for the upcoming swimming season, including meeting criteria established by the beaches environmental assessment and…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded $359,000 to the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472) for the period January 1 through December 31, 2026. This formula grant funds the recipient's beach monitoring and notification program for Louisiana's recreational beaches during the upcoming swimming season, enabling the state to meet performance criteria established by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and maintain eligibility for continued beach grant funding.

The primary deliverables include water quality monitoring data collection and analysis from designated recreational bathing beaches; public notification actions through advisories and beach closures when fecal indicator bacteria or pathogen indicators exceed threshold values; submissions of monitoring results and risk information to EPA; and an annual summary report documenting program outcomes. The recipient will also provide public opportunities for review and comment on program changes. By delivering current bacteriological water quality information, the program enables residents and tourists to make informed decisions about beach visitation, thereby reducing swimmer illness. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement, and the program will operate consistently with National Beach Guidance standards in effect at the time of award.

This agreement funds the recipient's beach monitoring and notification program for the upcoming swimming season, including meeting criteria established by the beaches environmental assessment and coastal health act to remain eligible for the beach grant. IT funds the recipient's efforts to monitor water quality at designated recreational beaches in louisiana and to notify the public when the waters exceed the beach notification threshold value for fecal indicator bacteria or any other pathogen indicators used by the program. This agreement aligns with pillar 1: clean air, land, and water for every american and pillar 3: cooperative federalism. Activities:the activities to be performed include monitoring water quality for pathogens at recreational bathing beaches, notifying the public of the sample results and risks, issuing advisories or beach closures when water quality levels are exceeded, submitting information to environmental protection agency, and providing the public opportunities to review and comment on the program, especially whenever significant changes are made to the program. The recipient's program will be consistent with national beach guidance published at the time of grant award.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include submissions of water quality monitoring data, public notification actions, and an annual summary report. The objective of the program is to reduce swimmer illness by providing the public with bacteriological information so they can make informed decisions about which beaches to visit. Beneficiaries of the program include all residents and tourists that visit the beaches.