JUNEAU, Alaska » The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it will provide $250,000 in grants to five states affected by debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan.

The agency said Monday that Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii will each receive up to $50,000 toward debris removal. Money could be made available as early as this month.

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska quickly deemed the amount “woefully inadequate.” The Democrat says $50,000 isn’t enough to even clean up one beach. 

Begich says the tsunami created a “slow-motion environmental disaster that will unfold over several years.”

He has requested at least $45 million in funding.