By Karim Hammam
Chemical manufacturer 3M will pay up to $7.35 billion to settle lawsuits alleging groundwater contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or "forever chemicals." The St. Paul, Minnesota-based company announced the agreement Tuesday.
The settlement covers as many as 120,000 people who say they were harmed by exposure to PFAS used in firefighting foam and other consumer products. The chemicals contaminated groundwater near military bases, airports and other sites where the foam was deployed. Payments will be distributed over nine years.
PFAS have been linked to health problems including liver and immune system damage and some cancers. The compounds are also used in nonstick, water- and grease-resistant products such as clothing and cookware. 3M did not admit liability under the agreement.
3M chairman William Brown called the settlement a "significant milestone" that substantially reduces uncertainty from the litigation. The company previously reached a $450 million agreement with New Jersey over natural resource contamination and a deal to pay more than $10 billion to U.S. public drinking water systems. Other manufacturers, including DuPont de Nemours Inc. and spinoffs Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc., have agreed to settlements totaling more than $1 billion for PFAS claims.
Fred Thompson, an attorney with the Motley Rice law firm representing plaintiffs, described the settlement as welcome news for thousands of victims who have sought accountability for nearly a decade. He said plaintiffs urgently need help covering mounting medical bills and other costs.
Under the terms, payouts begin with $50 million this year, followed by yearly payments of more than $1 billion each from 2028 to 2033. 3M could make additional payments if enough plaintiffs participate, but retains the option to cancel the settlement if participation is too low.
Environmental activists say PFAS manufacturers knew about the chemicals' health risks long before they became public. The Environmental Protection Agency has set strict limits on PFAS in public drinking water and requires testing, but those rules do not apply to private wells. A study to help federal regulators understand which industries discharge the chemicals in wastewater has been stalled for two years awaiting White House budget office review.
