3M to pay NJ $450 million over PFAS water contamination including Sayreville site
New Jersey has reached a historic settlement of up to $450 million with 3M over 'forever chemicals' contaminating state water supplies, including a site in Sayreville.
The settlement announced May 13 by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette is the largest statewide PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) settlement in New Jersey history.
The settlement resolves lawsuits dating to 2019 over the Chambers Works site in Pennsville and Carneys Point, Salem County and the Parlin site in Sayreville.
'Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state's water supply," Platkin stated. "For decades, 3M knew that their PFAS chemicals were forever contaminating the New Jersey environment. But they continued to pollute the environment and escape accountability. That ends now.'
Platkin said New Jersey has some of the highest levels of PFAS in the country.
'Today's settlement marks the latest chapter in our office's efforts to combat PFAS contamination and protect access to clean water, he said. 'We look forward to pursuing everyone else who had a role in contaminating New Jersey with PFAS.'
PFAS are a broad class of chemicals used in nonstick, water- and grease-resistant products such as clothing and cookware.
More: Middlesex County native pens book on forever chemicals and their birth in New Jersey
PFAS are referred to as 'forever chemicals' because they do not break down and last in the environment for years. Long-term exposure has been associated with health problems related to cholesterol levels, liver, kidney, immune system, the reproductive system in men, as well as developmental delays in infants and children.
The settlement also resolves the state's claims against 3M in litigation over PFAS in the firefighting material known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF).
'The makers of PFAS forever chemicals knew how poisonous these substances were, yet they produced and thoughtlessly released them into New Jersey's environment anyway,' LaTourette stated. 'This historic settlement marks another step toward holding polluters accountable for dangerous PFAS contamination that has wrought havoc on our water supplies, injured our natural resources, and threatened the public health. The damages we recover from 3M will help fund New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts.'
The settlement outlines a payment schedule over 25 years, with a total value of up to $450 million.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: 3M to pay NJ $450M over PFAS water contamination including Sayreville
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