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April 24, 2003 Contact: Jim Sellers (503) 945-5738 Technical contact: Michael Holcomb, Ph.D. (503) 731-4012 Sampling of beach-water quality to start this summer Public meetings scheduled in Seaside, Lincoln City, Gold Beach, Coos Bay Public informational meetings are scheduled in Seaside, Lincoln City, Gold Beach and Coos Bay to outline planned sampling of bacterial levels at beach sites along the Oregon coast. Public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) say they have received a $230,000 grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin sampling for bacterial levels in the water at Oregon beach sites. "Our goal is to help the public make informed decisions so they can avoid health risks while enjoying our coastal water," said Michael Holcomb, Ph.D., toxicologist in DHS. Holcomb said that DHS will hold a series of informational meetings in coastal communities to describe the new beach-water monitoring program and respond to questions. The public meeting schedule is:  Seaside:
7 p.m. on April 29 at City Hall, 989 Broadway; Lincoln
City: 7 p.m. on May 1 at City Hall, 801 S.W. Hwy. 101; Gold Beach:
7 p.m. on May 6 at City Hall, 29592 Ellensburg Ave.; Coos Bay:
7 p.m. on May 7 in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 Central Ave."We will work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to collect and analyze water quality samples from coastal recreation sites," said Holcomb. "If the bacterial levels are above unsafe levels, we will notify the public of hazardous conditions. We will also post sampling results on the Web." Sampling sites were selected according to a number of EPA criteria and then divided into three tiers. Tier 1 sites will be sampled weekly, tier 2 every other week, and tier 3 at least once during the summer. In all, 53 sites will be sampled this summer, according to Holcomb. Holcomb said the federal grant was authorized by Congress, with the intent that all coastal states do beach monitoring. Oregon joins other states that already have programs in place. |
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