On Thursday, 3M, a prominent chemical and manufacturing company in the United States, announced a settlement of $10.3 million with nationwide public water suppliers. The settlement addresses accusations of water contamination caused by “forever chemicals.” The company’s statement revealed that the agreement resolves both current and future claims by public water suppliers regarding drinking water contamination.
The settlement amount will be paid over 13 years and will be allocated for the treatment, testing, and clean up of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals. PFAS are durable ingredients found in everyday products ranging from cookware to firefighting foam, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences.
Mike Roman, the Chairman and CEO of 3M, expressed that this settlement is a significant step forward for the company. He emphasized that it aligns with their previous actions, including the discontinuation of PFOA and PFOS manufacturing over two decades ago. Additionally, 3M underscored that the agreement does not imply any admission of liability.
One of the resolved claims pertains to a lawsuit involving 3M and other companies, including DuPont, filed by the city of Stuart, Florida, in 2018. The city discovered that its water supply was contaminated with PFAS, which have been linked to increased health risks, including cancer. The contamination was traced back to the regular use of firefighting foam during training exercises at the city’s fire station. This led to over 4,000 states and municipalities joining the lawsuit.
The trial for this case was scheduled to commence in a South Carolina federal courtroom earlier this month. However, the start was delayed for three weeks as both sides worked towards a settlement, as ordered by a judge on June 5.
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