Monday, February 27, 2012

With Fukushima Debris Heading to the US West Coast...


...the US Federal Government is trying to cut funds for monitoring beaches...

Unbelievable.

From the Washington Post "Americans love the beach, but should watch out for bacteria" [majia: and radiation!]: 

"[excerpted] environmentalists are criticizing the Obama administration’s proposal this month to cut all funding for states to monitor contamination at beaches starting in 2013.

The president’s budget request has a long way to go before passing, but “if it goes through, the states are going to have a tough choice — cut back the number of beaches they monitor or find state revenue to cover their efforts,” said Jon Devine, an attorney for the water program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, or NRDC...."

Furthermore, the article explains that the EPA has actually lowered standards for regulating beach closures due to bacteria in ocean waters:

"Recently the EPA set that standard, saying it’s okay if 1 in 28 swimmers develops a gastrointestinal illness that leads to diarrhea and vomiting. Fleischli said that number should be closer to 1 in 100."


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