TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s lawyer normal mentioned Tuesday chemical producer 3M agreed to pay up $450 million to resolve lawsuits over pure useful resource contamination stemming from PFAS — generally known as “forever chemicals.”
The settlement is topic to court docket approval and a public remark interval, Legal professional Normal Matt Platkin’s workplace mentioned. St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M is predicted to pay $285 million this 12 months, with further quantities payable over the subsequent 25 years. The overall quantity might attain $450 million, Platkin’s workplace mentioned.
“Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state’s water supply,” Platkin mentioned in a press release.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a gaggle of chemical substances which were round for many years and have now unfold into the nation’s air, water and soil.
3M mentioned in 2022 it will finish all PFAS manufacturing by the top of this 12 months. In a press release, the corporate mentioned it’s on monitor to take action.
“This agreement is another important step toward reducing risk and uncertainty on these legacy issues, allowing 3M to focus on its strategic priorities,” 3M mentioned.
PFAS had been manufactured by corporations comparable to 3M, Chemours and others as a result of they had been extremely helpful. They helped eggs slide throughout non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped garments face up to rain and hold folks dry.
The chemical substances resist breaking down, although, that means they linger within the surroundings.
Environmental activists say PFAS makers knew in regards to the well being harms of PFAS lengthy earlier than they had been made public. The identical attributes that make the chemical substances so useful – resistance to breakdown – make them hazardous to folks.
PFAS accumulate within the physique, which is why the Environmental Safety Company set their limits for consuming water at 4 components per trillion for 2 frequent varieties — PFOA and PFOS — which might be phased out of producing however nonetheless are current within the surroundings.
The New Jersey settlement stems from 2019 lawsuits on the practically 1,500-acre Chambers Works web site in Pennsville and Carneys Level and one other location in Parlin. The settlement additionally resolves all different statewide claims in litigation over PFAS in firefighting materials used within the state.
The lawsuits alleged the businesses concerned, together with 3M, knew about dangers from perpetually chemical substances produced on the amenities however continued to promote them.
The lawyer normal mentioned that by agreeing to settle 3M wouldn’t go to trial subsequent week within the Chambers Works case.
New Jersey’s Division of Environmental Safety will use a portion of the settlement funds to “protect public health, safety and the environment from impacts caused by PFAS,” in line with a joint assertion from the lawyer normal and DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.
Initially Revealed: Might 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM EDT
