Comment submitted by Amber Gibson

Public Comment SubmissionDocket ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-3951Applicant: Google LLCSubject: Opposition to the Issuance of an Experimental Use Permit for Wolbachia-treated Culex quinquefasciatus MosquitoesTo the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs:I am writing to formally object to the issuance of the Experimental Use Permit (EUP) requested by Google LLC to release up to 32 million laboratory-modified Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes across California and Florida. As a concerned citizen advocating for environmental integrity and public health safety, I urge the EPA to deny this application based on significant ecological, wellness, and procedural uncertainties.The EPA should reject this proposal due to the following critical concerns:Ecosystem Disruption and Food Web Risks: Culex mosquitoes serve as a foundational food source for various native birds, bats, amphibians, and beneficial insects. Artificially crashing local populations over a massive geographic footprint risks localized food-web disruptions that have not been independently evaluated for long-term ecological consequences.Potential for Niche Displacement: Suppressing Culex quinquefasciatus may inadvertently open an ecological niche for other, potentially more aggressive or invasive disease-carrying mosquito species (such as Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus) to multiply and fill the void, creating unpredictable public health vectors.Unintended Wolbachia Dynamics: The application relies on the cytoplasmic incompatibility caused by the Wolbachia bacterium. The EPA must demand rigorous, peer-reviewed proof ensuring that accidental releases of modified females will not occur. The release of modified females could lead to the unintended stabilization of Wolbachia in the wild population, permanently altering the species' genetics without a public mandate.Lack of Long-Term Wellness and Health Data: There is a lack of independent, long-term scientific consensus regarding the cumulative health and environmental impacts of massive, automated bio-pesticide releases. Public health strategies should prioritize the precautionary principle, favoring transparent, community-led, and ecologically sound pest management over corporate-controlled biological experimentation.Lack of Local Informed Consent: The scale of the proposed release—spanning millions of insects across two major states—deprives local residents of their right to opt-out or provide informed consent regarding biological agents being introduced directly into their residential backyards and neighborhoods.For these reasons, I request that the EPA deny this EUP application until independent, multi-year ecological impact studies are conducted and made fully transparent to the public.Thank you for your time and careful consideration of these public health and environmental concerns.Sincerely, [Amber Gibson] [Bend, Oregon]