3M is expected to pay New Jersey between $400 million and $450 million over the next 25 years. The company is implicated in the contamination of drinking water across the nation with harmful “forever chemicals,” known as PFAS.
The Minnesota-based chemical corporation has produced PFAS for decades at the Chambers Works site in Deepwater, New Jersey, situated along the Delaware River. This facility was previously owned by the competitor DuPont.
Officials have stated that this settlement marks the largest single clean water agreement in New Jersey history. In 2019, New Jersey launched a lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and other PFAS manufacturers, citing contamination of the drinking water supply from the facility.
PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in numerous everyday products, such as nonstick cookware, water-repellant clothing, and stain-resistant carpets. Exposure to these chemicals is associated with metabolic disorders, reduced birth rates in women, delayed child development, and higher risks of certain cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
As part of the settlement announced on Tuesday, 3M will allocate between $400 million and $450 million to New Jersey over 25 years, aimed at damages and improving drinking water treatment.
New Jersey noted that DuPont and its spinoff, Kemoul, which operates the facility, are not included in the settlement. The remaining parties are anticipated to take the matter to trial. DuPont chose not to comment.
“Businesses that contaminate our water supply must be held accountable,” stated New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “For years, 3M was aware its PFAS chemicals were permanently polluting the New Jersey environment, yet they evaded responsibility. That time is over.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Chambers Works facility historically produced gunpowder and materials for nuclear purposes, aiding in the development of the atomic bomb. Recently, the site has manufactured a range of chemicals, including PFAS.
New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Sean M. Latourette remarked that the pollution issue extends far beyond drinking water. “PFAS are present throughout New Jersey, even reaching soil in forests distant from landfills,” he noted.
New Jersey is only the second state to settle with 3M regarding PFAS-related drinking water pollution claims, following Minnesota, which saw 3M agree to pay $850 million in 2018 for similar issues affecting natural resources.
In 2023, 3M also reached a nationwide settlement of up to $12.5 billion with public water suppliers to tackle PFAS contamination in drinking water.
3M characterized the agreement as a “crucial step toward mitigating risks and uncertainties” related to historical PFAS contamination. The company indicated that it had begun phasing out the production of two major PFAS substances in 2000 and aims to stop all PFAS production by 2025.
3M clarified that the settlement should not be seen as an admission of guilt and noted that it would incur a pre-tax charge of $285 million in the second quarter.
This week, the EPA was set to announce whether it will uphold the stringent PFAS drinking water standards established by the Biden administration last year.
Chemical companies and utilities have sued the agency over this decision. The Trump administration was due to inform the court on Monday whether it would continue to support these standards but instead requested a 21-day extension to determine its next steps.
Source: www.nytimes.com
