Comment submitted by Martha Bowers

I strongly oppose the EPA's proposal to rescind the drinking water standards for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and related PFAS mixtures. Safe drinking water is a fundamental public health responsibility. PFAS chemicals are known for their persistence in the environment and the human body, earning the name "forever chemicals." Scientific research has linked exposure to certain PFAS with serious health concerns, including impacts on the immune system, developmental health, thyroid function, liver health, reproductive health, and increased risk of certain cancers. The existing 2024 standards were developed after years of scientific review, peer-reviewed research, expert evaluation, and extensive public input. Reversing these protections before they are fully implemented undermines public confidence and places families, children, pregnant women, and future generations at unnecessary risk. Protecting public health should take precedence over reducing regulatory requirements. Communities deserve clean drinking water and clear, science-based standards that require monitoring, transparency, and treatment when contamination is found. I respectfully urge the EPA to retain and enforce the existing PFAS drinking water standards rather than rescinding them. Decisions affecting the nation's drinking water should remain grounded in the best available independent science and the precautionary principle: when there is credible evidence of significant harm, public health protections should be strengthened—not weakened. Clean water is not a political issue. It is a basic necessity and a responsibility we owe to current and future generations. I strongly oppose EPA's proposal to rescind PFAS contamination standards in drinking water. PFAS "forever chemicals" are linked to cancer, immune system harm, reproductive and developmental problems, and other serious health risks. New research shows PFAS are now present in 98.8% of human blood samples tested in the United States. The EPA, an agency with a core mission to "protect human health and the environment," should strengthen protections for public health — not roll them back. This new rule to rescind maximum contaminant levels for the four PFAS chemicals is a giveaway to the chemical industry and polluters and is unacceptable. The agency must keep and enforce strong PFAS drinking water limits, hold polluters accountable, and prioritize clean, safe drinking water for everyone.