On Sept. 20, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2011 (S. 1582). This bill seeks to improve water quality monitoring and speed public notification of safety concerns at the nation’s beaches due to stormwater runoff and sewer overflows. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

On Sept. 21, the Committee on Environment and Public Works passed the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act (S. 97). This bill would create a grant program for improving water quality through a list of priority projects established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as state and local partners.