Beach closures, advisories up in 2001

The Natural Resources Defense Council named Key West, Florida, for its environmental sensitivity.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Beach closures and advisories for unsafe conditions rose last year, an environmental group said, possibly due partly to more stringent monitoring.

The 12th annual beach report by the Natural Resources Defense Council shows the number of closures in 2001 rose 19 percent, to 13,410.

Most of the pollution is caused by sewage spills and urban runoff, but the report says researchers are disturbed because agencies don't know the sources of the contamination.

"Identifying the source of the problem is a critical step to improving beach water quality," said NRDC senior attorney Sarah Chasis. "It's important not only to regularly monitor beaches and notify the public of contamination, but also to identify and control the pollution sources."

RESOURCES • Where are the cleanest beaches?  • NRDC full report

Since the first beach report was issued in 1990, researchers say states have improved their monitoring, testing and notification procedures, but there still are no uniform national standards.

Of the 138 agencies responsible for at least one marine or estuarine beach, only 38 in seven states have adopted the standards for bacteria recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Only 29 agencies out of 124 have adopted the standards for freshwater beaches.

In some places, even when health levels exceed safe levels, beaches are allowed to remain open.

The NRDC also has compiled a list of 70 "beach bums" at its Web site, www.nrdc.org. These communities have no monitoring system or adequate notification system in place.

The agency has named Branford, Connecticut; Key West, Florida; Salem, Massachusetts; and the Los Angeles County and San Diego County regional water quality boards "Beach Buddies" for their environmental sensitivity.