I am very proud of the fact that since 1985 New Jersey is the only state to have a mandatory beach protection program that includes a bacteria standard, a monitoring program, and mandatory beach closure requirements when the bacteria standard is exceeded. But I also am appalled that 14 years later we still do not have a nationwide, mandatory testing program of our recreational waters, which so critically impacts (1) public health and (2) the U.S. economy!
Does it make any sense to carefully monitor foods and drugs in this country to protect public health, yet permit people to swim in untested recreational waters? We know for a fact marine waters can appear clean but may harbor life-threatening pathogens.
You may recall that in 1987-88 New Jersey experienced beach closings due to trash and medical waste washing ashore, losing almost $3 billion in tourism revenues. Unfortunately, those tourists, who left to go elsewhere, had no assurance of the quality of the water where they went because neighboring states had no similar water quality testing program.
To regain our previously loyal beach goers, obviously we had to fix a variety of pollution problems. This we have done. Last week the Natural Resources Defense Council announced that beach closings in New Jersey were at a record low. But without the Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program, that would not have happened.
Here's how the program works in Avalon. The county health department samples water quality weekly at 10 recreational sites from mid-May through mid-September, testing for fecal coliform and enterocci bacteria. If the bacterial count at any of the sites is above the permissible limit, the beach is closed to swimmers. This means large signs are posted advising bathers they are not permitted to swim, and lifeguards remain on duty to prevent the public from entering the water.
Obviously, beach closings are not a PR plus for a tourist community. But they are a must when you are putting the health and welfare of your visitors first and foremost. Fortunately, in Avalon, we have not had a beach closing in years. But that is not by accident. Since 1991 Avalon has won seven of eight Quality New Jersey Shore Quality Awards for the steps we have taken to prevent pollutants from entering recreational waters. With the threat of possible beach closings, we have taken those steps necessary to assure that water quality remains excellent.
During the last decade Avalon has spent many millions of dollars to prevent non-point source pollution, which is the primary cause of pathogens entering recreational waters. Major expenditures have been made on equipment to clean beaches, skeets and catch basins, and on projects such as storm water disposal system rehabilitation, repair and relocation of outfall lines, manhole cover repair, the installation of tide flex valves on storm water outfalls, required capping of all sewer vents, TV inspection of our infrastructure, and intense litter abatement, to name a few.
Avalon has undertaken these projects with little outside help. But Senator Lautenberg's legislation, with the inclusion of $9 million in grants to states, should help get the ball rolling. By enacting this legislation you will send a message to the world that we in the U. S. care about the public health of tourists who visit our beaches.
I would remind you that the number one tourist destination in the U.S. is the beach, with coastal states receiving about 85% of all tourist-related revenues, generating billions of federal tax dollars. Foreign tourists who also prefer U.S. beaches, create a significant trade surplus.
Therefore, it is incredible to me that our federal government makes such a feeble effort to support, promote and improve our nations beaches and recreational waters. In the future, we will pay for such a lax attitude. Meanwhile, other counkies, who wish to compete, are hard at work. From 1950 to 1993 the U.S. subsidized only $15 million in shore restoration projects versus Germany which spent $90 million; Spain, $250 million and Japan, $1.4 billion.
If we are going to maintain our edge in world tourism, we must be able to give visitors assurance that we have the world's best beaches and that all U.S. recreational waters are monitored uniformly and consistently. They must know that if there is a problem, they will be advised and prohibited from entering waters that could be dangerous to their health.
That is why the federal government must immediately begin to address the quality of its beaches and recreational waters. We are meeting that challenge in New Jersey and I'm here today in support of Senator Lautenberg's BEACH Act which would make water quality testing mandatory nationwide. It is time this nation begins to protect and enhance one of its most economically vital assets--its beaches and recreational waters.
Again, my sincere thanks to Senators Chafee, Baucus and Lautenberg for the opportunity to testify here today.