Chemical firm 3M has agreed to pay up to $450 million to address water pollution and other environmental damage from PFAS, or "forever chemicals," New Jersey officials have announced.
The agreement would resolve 3M's liability for PFAS contamination from the 1,455-acre Chambers Works complex in Pennsville and Carneys Point. PFAS was supplied to the sprawling plant by 3M until 2001.
It also would resolve lawsuits against 3M over the presence of PFAS in fire-fighting foam across the state and over pollution at a company facility in Sayreville, Middlesex County.
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This settlement does not affect private PFAS lawsuits filed by individuals against 3M. Many of those suits have been brought by South Jersey residents with tainted drinking water.
State officials on Tuesday described the agreement as the "largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history."