Latest news with #MatthewPlatkin
The Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
15 states sue over Trump move to return seized rapid-fire devices for guns
Fifteen Democratic-led US states filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Republican President Donald Trump's administration from returning thousands of previously seized devices that can be used to convert semi-automatic rifles into weapons that can shoot as quickly as machine guns. The states filed the lawsuit in federal court in Baltimore in the wake of the administration's May 16 settlement that resolved litigation involving a ban on certain 'forced-reset triggers' imposed by the government under Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The states in the lawsuit said such devices remain illegal to possess under federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Biden issued the ban after it determined that some of these devices should be classified as illegal machine guns under a federal law called the National Firearms Act. 'We will not stand by as the Trump administration attempts to secretly legalise machine guns in an effort to once again put firearms industry profits over the safety of our residents,' New Jersey attorney-general Matthew Platkin said. The lawsuit was led by New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and also included the states of Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as well as the District of Columbia. The Trump administration's settlement reversed course on the Biden administration's policies. The settlement resolved lawsuits brought by a gun rights group challenging the ban and cases brought by Biden's justice department against a manufacturer of the devices. Those cases had resulted in conflicting court rulings over the legality of classifying these devices as illegal machine guns. As part of the settlement, the Trump administration agreed to not apply the machine gun ban to such devices as long as they are not designed for use with handguns and agreed to return nearly 12,000 forced-reset triggers that had been seized by the government to their owners. The new lawsuit seeks to block the return of these devices to their owners. The states said conversion devices like forced reset triggers have been frequently used in recent years in violent crimes and mass shootings, and that at least 100,000 such devices that were distributed nationally in recent years should be considered illegal machine guns. The justice department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
15 states sue over Trump move to return seized rapid-fire devices for guns
June 9 (Reuters) - Fifteen Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Republican President Donald Trump's administration from returning thousands of previously seized devices that can be used to convert semiautomatic rifles into weapons that can shoot as quickly as machine guns. The states filed the lawsuit, opens new tab in federal court in Baltimore in the wake of the administration's May 16 settlement that resolved litigation involving a ban on certain "forced-reset triggers" imposed by the government under Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The states in the lawsuit said such devices remain illegal to possess under federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Biden issued the ban after it determined that some of these devices should be classified as illegal machine guns under a federal law called the National Firearms Act. "We will not stand by as the Trump administration attempts to secretly legalize machine guns in an effort to once again put firearms industry profits over the safety of our residents," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. The lawsuit was led by New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and also included the states of Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as well as the District of Columbia. The Trump administration's settlement reversed course on the Biden administration's policies. The settlement resolved lawsuits brought by a gun rights group challenging the ban and cases brought by Biden's Justice Department against a manufacturer of the devices. Those cases had resulted in conflicting court rulings over the legality of classifying these devices as illegal machine guns. As part of the settlement, the Trump administration agreed to not apply the machine gun ban to such devices as long as they are not designed for use with handguns and agreed to return nearly 12,000 forced-reset triggers that had been seized by the government to their owners. The new lawsuit seeks to block the return of these devices to their owners. The states said conversion devices like forced reset triggers have been frequently used in recent years in violent crimes and mass shootings, and that at least 100,000 such devices that were distributed nationally in recent years should be considered illegal machine guns. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
3M Settles New Jersey's ‘Forever Chemicals' Contamination Lawsuit for $450 Million
Chemical manufacturer 3M has entered into a settlement agreement with New Jersey to resolve claims accusing the company of contaminating water and other natural resources with PFAS substances, popularly known as 'forever chemicals,' the state Attorney General's office said in a May 13 The settlement, valued at up to $450 million and subject to court approval, is the 'largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history,' said the statement. It resolves certain lawsuits filed by the state against the company in 2019. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in fabric, furniture, industrial products, and several household items. Known as 'forever chemicals' because of their The chemicals have been found in drinking water, livestock, and food packaging, and are linked to several adverse health issues such as cancers, endocrine disorders, developmental issues in fetuses, and negative impacts on reproduction and immune function. The settlement amount will be paid over a period of 25 years, with around $275 million to $325 million scheduled to be paid between 2026 and 2034, and the remainder between 2035 and 2050. The first lawsuit on the matter was a complaint filed in March 2019. It alleged that New Jersey sustained environmental damage from 3M's role in contaminating the Chambers Works site in Pennsville and Carneys Point in Salem County. Related Stories 4/29/2025 5/7/2025 The second lawsuit, also filed in March 2019, made similar claims against the company's Parlin facility in Sayreville in Middlesex County. A third complaint was filed against 3M and other manufacturers in May 2019, citing environmental damage and violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. This was related to the manufacture and sale of certain products that allegedly contained or broke down into PFAS chemicals. With the settlement agreement, all these lawsuits are now resolved. '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,' said Attorney General Matthew Platkin. 'New Jersey has some of the highest levels of PFAS in the country. That's why New Jersey has been leading the national charge against corporate polluters who contaminate our drinking water and harm our state's communities.' The agreement also settles 3M's liability related to a statewide PFAS directive issued in 2019 by New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection. Announcing the settlement in a May 12 'This agreement is another important step toward reducing risk and uncertainty on these legacy issues, allowing 3M to focus on its strategic priorities,' it said. 'In the agreement, the State specifically recognized that 3M 'has taken actions, which other companies have not taken, to cease manufacturing' PFAS.' Tackling PFAS Contamination 3M has The company was caught up in another 'Defendants marketed products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for over 70 years and were aware of the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals for over 50 years,' the state said in the lawsuit. The Trump administration is taking action to combat PFAS contamination. On April 28, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), outlined certain actions the agency Such actions include establishing liability frameworks to ensure polluters pay for contamination and creating limitation guidelines for PFAS manufacturers. 'I have long been concerned about PFAS and the efforts to help states and communities dealing with legacy contamination in their backyards,' Zeldin said. 'This is just a start of the work we will do on PFAS to ensure Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water. 'With today's announcement, we are tackling PFAS from all of EPA's program offices, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getting into drinking water systems, holding polluters accountable.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
3M to pay New Jersey up to $450M in landmark ‘forever chemical' settlement
(The Hill) – 3M will pay the state of New Jersey up to $450 million over the next 25 years, resolving claims regarding widespread contamination from 'forever chemicals.' State Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced the agreement on Tuesday, describing the terms as 'the largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history.' PFAS is the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, an umbrella group of about 15,000 synthetic compounds known for their ability to persist nearly 'forever' in the environment, and for years in the human body. These cancer-linked compounds are present in a wide array of household items, such as nonstick pans, waterproof apparel cosmetics and stain-resistant fabric, as well as in certain firefighting foams. '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 said in a statement. '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 commissioner added. Can you filter 'forever chemicals' out of your water at home? New Jersey, one of the most PFAS-polluted places nationwide, is also the accidental birthplace of the chemicals. In 1938, postdoctoral scholar Roy Plunkett inadvertently created the first type of PFAS, known as PTFE or Teflon, while working on replacements for hazardous refrigerants. Plunkett conducted his research in DuPont labs located in the town of Deepwater, which now houses the Chemours Chambers Works site. The Tuesday settlement resolves 3M's liability in New Jersey's lawsuits regarding Chambers Works, as well as at the Parlin site, located in Sayreville, according to the announcement from the attorney general's office. A statement from the company on Tuesday acknowledged that 'historically, 3M supplied PFAS to DuPont at the site but discontinued that supply in 2001.' The settlement also resolves the state's claims against 3M in litigation regarding PFAS presence in firefighting foam, per the announcement. With this resolution, 3M will now no longer stand trial in an ongoing case on Chambers Works against DuPont, its spinoff company Chemours and other defendants. The attorney general's office stressed that Tuesday's settlement ranks among the only such statewide agreements in which 3M has entered for PFAS liability nationwide. Nonetheless, the 3M statement emphasized that 'this agreement is not an admission of liability.' 'If the agreement is not approved by the court or certain agreed terms are not fulfilled, 3M is prepared to continue to defend itself in litigation,' the statement added. The Hill has reached out for comment to both DuPont and Chemours, whose trial is currently scheduled for May 19, according to the attorney general's office. 'Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state's water supply,' Platkin said in a statement. 'For decades, 3M knew that their PFAS chemicals were forever contaminating the New Jersey environment,' the attorney general continued. 'But they continued to pollute the environment and escape accountability. That ends now.' Per the terms of the settlement, 3M will begin issuing payments of $275 million to $325 million in the years 2026-2034. In the first year, the company will pay $43.45 million for natural resources damages at the Chambers Works site and $16.55 million for related PFAS abatement projects, such as drinking water treatment. 3M will also pay $40 million to cover fees, costs and punitive damages, while financing costs of other statewide natural resource damages and pollution reduction. In the 2035-2050 window, the settlement involves an additional $125 million in payments for further damages and abatement needs. Payments made during those years, however, are subject to certain offsetting credits that 3M could receive if local governments are successful in recouping their own related claims, according to the attorney general's office. Via the settlement, 3M is released from liability arising from its sale, marketing, distribution, use and manufacture of PFAS in New Jersey, the announcement stated. However, the company must continue investigating and remediating PFAS contamination at its former New Jersey locations, the settlement added. The attorney general's office also stressed that the agreement does not impact private PFAS lawsuits filed by individual residents against 3M. 3M in its statement described the agreement as 'another important step toward reducing risk and uncertainty on these legacy issues, allowing 3M to focus on its strategic priorities.' The company noted that in the year 2000, it announced the voluntary phaseout of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most notorious types of PFAS. Twenty-two years later, 3M then said it would discontinue all PFAS production by the end of 2025. '3M remains on track to do so,' the statement added. With this newest settlement, the state of New Jersey has now obtained pledges from companies to pay up to about $840 million for contaminating the environment with forever chemicals, the announcement added. 'The damages we recover from 3M will help fund New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts,' LaTourette said, emphasizing that the state 'will continue to hold all PFAS polluters accountable' for their actions. 'The people of New Jersey should never be forced to clean up after them,' the commissioner added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
3M to pay New Jersey up to $450M in landmark ‘forever chemical' settlement
3M will pay the state of New Jersey up to $450 million over the next 25 years, resolving claims regarding widespread contamination from 'forever chemicals.' State Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced the agreement on Tuesday, describing the terms as 'the largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history.' PFAS is the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, an umbrella group of about 15,000 synthetic compounds known for their ability to persist nearly 'forever' in the environment, and for years in the human body. These cancer-linked compounds are present in a wide array of household items, such as nonstick pans, waterproof apparel cosmetics and stain-resistant fabric, as well as in certain firefighting foams. '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 said in a statement. '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 commissioner added. New Jersey, one of the most PFAS-polluted places nationwide, is also the accidental birthplace of the chemicals. In 1938, postdoctoral scholar Roy Plunkett inadvertently created the first type of PFAS, known as PTFE or Teflon, while working on replacements for hazardous refrigerants. Plunkett conducted his research in DuPont labs located in the town of Deepwater, which now houses the Chemours Chambers Works site. The Tuesday settlement resolves 3M's liability in New Jersey's lawsuits regarding Chambers Works, as well as at the Parlin site, located in Sayreville, according to the announcement from the attorney general's office. A statement from the company on Tuesday acknowledged that 'historically, 3M supplied PFAS to DuPont at the site but discontinued that supply in 2001.' The settlement also resolves the state's claims against 3M in litigation regarding PFAS presence in firefighting foam, per the announcement. With this resolution, 3M will now no longer stand trial in an ongoing case on Chambers Works against DuPont, its spinoff company Chemours and other defendants. The attorney general's office stressed that Tuesday's settlement ranks among the only such statewide agreements in which 3M has entered for PFAS liability nationwide. Nonetheless, the 3M statement emphasized that 'this agreement is not an admission of liability.' 'If the agreement is not approved by the court or certain agreed terms are not fulfilled, 3M is prepared to continue to defend itself in litigation,' the statement added. The Hill has reached out for comment to both DuPont and Chemours, whose trial is currently scheduled for May 19, according to the attorney general's office. 'Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state's water supply,' Platkin said in a statement. 'For decades, 3M knew that their PFAS chemicals were forever contaminating the New Jersey environment,' the attorney general continued. 'But they continued to pollute the environment and escape accountability. That ends now.' Per the terms of the settlement, 3M will begin issuing payments of $275 million to $325 million in the years 2026-2034. In the first year, the company will pay $43.45 million for natural resources damages at the Chambers Works site and $16.55 million for related PFAS abatement projects, such as drinking water treatment. 3M will also pay $40 million to cover fees, costs and punitive damages, while financing costs of other statewide natural resource damages and pollution reduction. In the 2035-2050 window, the settlement involves an additional $125 million in payments for further damages and abatement needs. Payments made during those years, however, are subject to certain offsetting credits that 3M could receive if local governments are successful in recouping their own related claims, according to the attorney general's office. Via the settlement, 3M is released from liability arising from its sale, marketing, distribution, use and manufacture of PFAS in New Jersey, the announcement stated. However, the company must continue investigating and remediating PFAS contamination at its former New Jersey locations, the settlement added. The attorney general's office also stressed that the agreement does not impact private PFAS lawsuits filed by individual residents against 3M. 3M in its statement described the agreement as 'another important step toward reducing risk and uncertainty on these legacy issues, allowing 3M to focus on its strategic priorities.' The company noted that in the year 2000, it announced the voluntary phaseout of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most notorious types of PFAS. Twenty-two years later, 3M then said it would discontinue all PFAS production by the end of 2025. '3M remains on track to do so,' the statement added. With this newest settlement, the state of New Jersey has now obtained pledges from companies to pay up to about $840 million for contaminating the environment with forever chemicals, the announcement added. 'The damages we recover from 3M will help fund New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts,' LaTourette said, emphasizing that the state 'will continue to hold all PFAS polluters accountable' for their actions. 'The people of New Jersey should never be forced to clean up after them,' the commissioner added.
