1.   Coastal states issued thousands of beach closures and advisories last year because of environmentally unsafe conditions, according to an administration fact sheet.

2.   Right now, there is no uniform set of scientific standards for beach closures.

3.   Sewage spills caused four beach closures at Marina del Rey, Inner Cabrillo, a portion of Redondo Beach and a portion of Venice Beach last year.

4.   Shifting weather patterns and spotty reporting compliance make it difficult to declare any trend of increasing or decreasing beach closures.

5.   Temporary beach closures have followed the attacks, and people are on the alert.

6.   What is the trend in beach closures, and how has that protocol served as a model for other communities?