Launched in January 2025 with a $5,000 grant from Freshwater Future (administered through the Muskegon County Environmental Coordinating Council, or MCECC), the Muskegon County PFAS Task Force is a collaborative effort to address PFAS contamination locally. With 19 known PFAS-contaminated sites, Muskegon County has the highest number along the West Michigan lakeshore, underscoring the need for coordinated, community-based action. 

The Muskegon County PFAS Task Force, co-coordinated by Tanya Cabala and Dr. Rick Rediske, continues to expand public education, improve access to reliable PFAS information, and support community response efforts. 

Together, Dr. Rediske and Tanya Cabala bring decades of experience in environmental restoration, public health, and community engagement. Their long history of collaboration on the White Lake and Muskegon Lake Areas of Concern has helped them develop a strong, trust-based working model that they are now applying to the PFAS crisis.

The Task Force adapts the successful Area of Concern Public Advisory Council (PAC) approach to today’s emerging contaminant challenge, aiming to empower local voices, increase transparency, and promote science-informed response strategies.