Don't let "forever chemicals" off the hook

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 06.04.26

The EPA wants to roll back drinking water protections for PFAS — chemicals linked to cancer, thyroid disease and immune damage that never break down in your body or the environment. These aren’t abstract regulatory footnotes. They’re in your Brunswick County tap water.

Your voice matters. Agencies, like the EPA, are legally required to consider public input, and the agency is accepting public comments until July 20, and holding a virtual hearing July 7. Don’t let corporations that profited from poisoning water supplies in our county escape accountability. Register at epa.gov, submit your comment at regulations.gov (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0654), and speak up.

Your vote matters. According to recent tests of tap water across 31 states and Washington D.C., Brunswick County has some of the highest levels of PFAS in public tap water anywhere in the United States. In North Carolina, PFAS contamination is regulated in part by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Brunswick County, through our board of commissioners, can/should express our concerns about PFAS to the DHHS.

Therefore, we need commissioners who will voice our concerns like Sarah Singer. She is running for a seat on our commission. I urge county voters to elect Sarah Singer to the board of commissioners in the upcoming election.

Jeffrey Eighmy

Leland