Pam DiBona, ELM 617-742-2553

Environmental organizations applauded House and Senate members for passing the so-called Beaches Bill today. The legislation will significantly strengthen standards for water quality monitoring and disclosure at nearly 1,000 beaches in Massachusetts.

"Rainy days like today, and the millions of gallons of raw sewage that flow into our waterways as a result, are the best reminder of why we are glad to see the Beaches Bill pass," said Elizabeth Sturcken, Chair of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. "Massachusetts beachgoers won’t have to hesitate before going for a dip. They’ll know what they’re getting into when they go for a swim."

"This is good news for every beach lover in the Bay State," said MASSPIRG Environmental Attorney Paul Burns. "The Beaches Bill will help to ensure that no one gets sick from unknowingly swimming in polluted waters."

"We look forward to a day soon when we can tell swimmers across the state that their beaches are being tested regularly," said Pam DiBona, Legislative Director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts. "Families will have one less thing to worry about when taking their family to the beach. Once we have consistent testing at all of our beaches, we can begin to solve some of these ongoing pollution problems."

"Massachusetts has tremendous natural resources-including our beaches-but we only deserve them if we maintain them," said Senate President Tom Birmingham. "This legislation will make important information available to beach-going families and state policymakers."

"This is a good news bill," said Senator Stephen F. Lynch (D-South Boston). "There is a need for uniform standard access across the state." "It makes sense that after spending billions to clean up Boston Harbor and many millions more for our riverways we are now adopting standards to correct some of the inadequacies we have from periodic events of pollution from the result of storm water runoff and other sources of pollution."

A report released last month by the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Surfrider Foundation, and MASSPIRG found that only about one-third of beaches in the state are tested for pollutants at least weekly. And only 42% of the 278 beaches surveyed in the report use state-of-the-art testing methods.

Each year, more than a billion gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage are discharged into state waterways. From 1991 through 1998, there were at least 828 beach closings or advisories in coastal areas of the state, but it is unknown how many more advisories or closings there would have been had the water been tested adequately.

After treading water in the legislature for several days due to technical amendments the bill was enacted by both chambers late today.

"Massachusetts is turning the tide on unsafe, unhealthy polluted beaches," DiBona said. "Families and tourists will soon know the quality of the water they enjoy."

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