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# Beachgoers to benefit from EPA settlement
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/beachgoers-to-benefit-from-epa-settlement/
- Published: 2008-09-11T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:59:36.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Environment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Agency to develop new water safety standards*

*By CHRISTINA WALKER Special to the Daily Press*

SM BAY A settlement was reached last week with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District sued the agency for failing to meet its obligations under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Plan Act of 2000.

The act was designed to improve public health through beach monitoring and notification programs as well as higher water quality standards. In October of 2000 congress ordered the EPA to create new water quality standards for national beaches by 2005\. The new standards were to be based on current studies conducted by the EPA on the human health impacts of bacteria and viruses in coastal waters. The NRDC decided to sue the EPA after it failed to meet those deadlines. Under last week’s settlement the EPA will be required to provide new criteria by 2012.

“It’s good news,” said Aaron Colangelo, attorney for the NRDC referring to the settlement.“It’s unfortunate that we had to sue the EPA to get them to take the necessary steps, but the agreement they signed onto will lead to better safety standards and fewer illnesses for those people who swim at the beach.”

Current public water and beach safety regulations were adopted in 1985 and based on research done in the 1970s. That research did not include the health effects of people swimming in water contaminated by urban runoff such as the water found off local beaches.

Enesta Jones, spokesperson for the EPA, said prior to 2005 the agency completed research associated with creating new recreational water quality criteria including several epidemiology studies. The studies raised additional questions and EPA said it needed to conduct more scientific research before the new criteria could be created.

“Getting these new criteria right is important for public health and for local communities and the EPA is committed to getting all critical studies done to ensure a strong scientific foundation for the new criteria,” Jones said.

Kurjon Lee, public information officer for the County of Los Angeles Public Works Department, said that his agency will be happy to get the new scientific research the EPA will provide.

The Los Angeles Public Works Department is held responsible for contaminants found at Los Angeles beaches. The new regulations created by the EPA will help the department to know whether current bacteria at beaches and in the water is causing people to become ill Lee said.

Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay, is also very excited by news of the settlement.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “We’re ecstatic that the EPA will finally move forward updating the criteria on public health.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/091108-01_01.jpg)

(Photo: Special to the Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 11, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091108.pdf?ref=smdp.com)