THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
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For Immediate Release October 10,
2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today, I am pleased to sign the Beaches Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health Act, which significantly strengthens efforts to make
America?s beaches clean, safe and healthy.
America?s coasts are not only a natural treasure ? they are also the
number one destination for vacationing families, making their health vital
to our nation?s tourism industry. Yet each year, pollution forces
thousands of beach closures or health advisories. The Beach Act will
ensure that in the future fewer families arrive at the beach only to
discover that it is too polluted for fishing or swimming. It requires
states to adopt enforceable standards for water quality, regularly test
coastal waters for health-threatening pollution, and notify the public of
unsafe conditions. In addition, it provides assistance to states to carry
out these efforts.
This Act builds on my Administration?s strong efforts to ensure
healthier beaches and cleaner coastal waters, greater protection for
endangered and threatened marine species, sound fisheries management, and
support for marine protected areas. I urge Congress to fully fund ocean
and coastal conservation programs for the coming fiscal year so that
communities around the country may enjoy healthy beaches and clean waters
for years to come.
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