State Rep. Jim Lilly, of Park Twp., issued the following statement in response to the governor’s creation of a new panel to study the water advisory limit for PFAS:

“Michigan has led the nation in PFAS detection and response, and we continue to lead the way in strategies to protect human health.  Last year, we quickly adopted the Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water limit as our environmental cleanup standard—it is these careful and swift steps that led to action for families in Robinson Township. We must continue to lead on this critical issue.

“Governor Whitmer has taken an important step to continue better protecting the health of all Michigan families. Top experts have dedicated 15 months of careful scientific investigation, research and management, and I urge the governor’s new commission to continue this record of putting forward sound, peer-reviewed scientific recommendations. It is my hope that, through attentive and rigorous research and policies, we will be able to put the minds of Michigan families at ease.

 “Our ability to detect PFAS in our environment improves every day. But our knowledge of how to clean up this contaminant efficiently and completely continues to develop. I encourage the governor’s committee to focus their efforts on cleanup as well as detection. Recommendations for cleanup will complement our existing efforts to protect Michiganders health, which must be a top priority. The health and safety of the people of this state cannot be ignored.”