State Rep. Beth Griffin, of Mattawan, issued the following statement in response to the governor’s creation of a new panel to study the water advisory limit for PFAS: 

“From the day Michigan started testing for PFAS, we’ve used the Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water limit as our environmental cleanup standard to ensure no polluted site went undetected. Since then, we have worked to detect, contain and respond to PFAS contamination around the state. It is this kind of decision-making that allowed us to identify the emerging contaminant in Parchment and the surrounding area and enabled us to communicate with residents and local officials to take action. But our work is not done. This record of proactive progress must continue. 

“Governor Whitmer today took an important step to continue our state’s progress toward better protecting the health of all Michigan families. Over the last 15 months, careful scientific investigation, research and management of PFAS has made Michigan a national leader in protecting the health and safety of its residents from this contaminant. We’ve set the standard for action, and by creating this science advisory workgroup we can set a science-based standard for PFAS drinking water safety that Michigan families can trust.  

“It is important we not only set science-based standards, but also find ways to clean up PFAS when it is detected. Detection, as we know, is just the beginning. I encourage the governor’s committee to focus their efforts on long-term solutions, in addition to detection. This will improve our existing efforts to protect Michiganders health— which is and must continue to be a top priority.”