Skip to main content
HR 3789 104th Congress House

Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996

Official title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the quality of coastal recreation waters, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 11, 1996 Introduced by: Pallone, Frank Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Administrative procedureAluminumBacterial diseasesBeaches
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Beverage containersCoastal zoneCommerceCongressCongressional reporting requirementsEconomics and Public FinanceEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental healthEnvironmental researchFederal aid to water pollution controlFederal preemptionGovernment Operations and PoliticsGreat LakesHealthInfrastructure
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 25, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Jul 11, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jul 11, 1996
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action July 25, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue water quality criteria for pathogens in coastal recreation waters. Requires States to adopt consistent water quality standards.

Requires the Administrator to publish regulations specifying methods to be used by States to monitor coastal recreation waters during periods of use by the public for compliance with standards. Requires notification of local governments and the public of water quality standards violations.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) issue guidance on uniform assessment and monitoring procedures for floatable materials in coastal recreation waters; and (2) specify the conditions under which the presence of floatable material constitutes a threat to public health and safety.

Requires studies and reports to the Congress on developing better indicators for detecting harmful bacteria and viruses in coastal recreation waters.

Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States to fulfill requirements under this Act.

Authorizes appropriations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1950 Identical bill Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3789: Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3789/
MLA
"H.R. 3789: Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3789/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3789, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3789/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3789: Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3789/)
Report a problem