In brief
In a landmark agreement, Minnesota-based 3M has committed to pay up to $450 million to New Jersey over the next 25 years to address drinking-water contamination linked to PFAS, known as "forever chemicals."
The settlement marks the largest clean-water agreement in New Jersey’s history, stemming from a lawsuit filed by the state in 2019. The lawsuit accused 3M, along with DuPont and other manufacturers, of polluting drinking water sources from the Chambers Works facility in Deepwater, New Jersey, where PFAS were extensively utilized for decades.PFAS encompasses a group of synthetic chemicals that have been widely used in consumer products, including nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics. These chemicals are associated with various health issues, such as metabolic disorders, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children, and an elevated risk of certain cancers.As per the terms of the settlement, 3M's financial contribution will support damage payments, water treatment efforts, and environmental cleanup initiatives linked to the contamination. Notably, DuPont and its spinoff Chemours, present at the Chambers Works site, have not joined this settlement agreement, and litigation against them is expected to continue.
