S. 2844 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modify provisions relating to beach monitoring.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
Beach Protection Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (popularly(commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to include among eligible grant activities the development and implementation of programs for source tracking, sanitary surveys, and prevention efforts to address the identified sources of beach water pollution. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY2008-FY2013.

Requires grant recipients to identify: (1)(Sec. 3) Amends the use of a rapid testing method; (2) measures for communication within 24 hours of the results of a water sample concerning pollutants to specified officialsBeaches Environmental Assessment and all state agencies with authority to require the prevention or treatmentCoastal Health Act of the sources of beach water pollution; (3) measures2000 to develop and implement a beach water pollution source identification and tracking program for the coastal recreation waters that are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens; (4) a publicly accessible and searchable global information system database with information updated within 24 hours of its availability, organized by beach and with defined standards, sampling plan, monitoring protocols, sampling results, and number and cause of beach closing and advisory days; and (5) measuresauthorize appropriations to ensure that closures or advisories are made or issued within 24 hours after a state government determines that its coastal recreation waters are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens. carry out such Act through FY2013.

Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to:(Sec. 5) Requires grant recipients to identify: (1) publish a revised listthe use of a rapid testing methods; andmethod; (2) validate such methods no later than two years after this Act's enactmentmeasures for communication within 24 hours of the results of a water sample concerning pollutants to specified officials and periodically thereafter. all state agencies with authority to require the prevention or treatment of the sources of beach water pollution; (3) measures to develop and implement a beach water pollution source identification and tracking program for the coastal recreation waters that are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens; (4) a publicly accessible and searchable global information system database with information updated within 24 hours of its availability, organized by beach and with defined standards, sampling plan, monitoring protocols, sampling results, and number and cause of beach closing and advisory days; and (5) measures to ensure that closures or advisories are made or issued within 24 hours after a state government determines that its coastal recreation waters are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens.

Sets forth provisions requiring:Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to: (1) publish a review by the Administratorrevised list of staterapid testing methods; and local compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and grant conditions; (2) corrective actions by such governments not in compliance; and (3) a review by the Comptroller Generalvalidate such compliance reviewmethods no later than two years after this Act's enactment and corrective action. periodically thereafter.

Amends(Sec. 8) Sets forth provisions requiring: (1) a review by the Beaches Environmental AssessmentAdministrator of state and Coastal Health Actlocal compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and grant conditions, including compliance with public health and safety performance criteria and state and local program content requirements; (2) corrective actions by such governments not in compliance; and (3) a review by the Comptroller General of 2000such compliance review and corrective action.

(Sec. 9) Directs the Administrator to authorize appropriationsstudy and report to carry out suchCongress on the formula for the distribution of grants for coastal recreation water quality monitoring under the Clean Water Act through FY2013.for the purpose of identifying potential revisions of that formula. Requires the Administrator to consider the emphasis and valuation placed on the length of beach season and to revise the distribution formula in accordance with the study's recommendations.
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== Status of the Legislation ==

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Latest Major Action: 7/10/2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 871.
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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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