Ohio leaders announced a groundbreaking $110 million settlement with DuPont to resolve claims over the company’s production and use of “forever chemicals,” just days after a major class action lawsuit was thrown out. This settlement comes as a major victory for the state and its citizens.
The money, to be paid in a lump sum by DuPont, will be utilized to create treatment systems, address water contamination in private wells, and potentially seek out additional water sources for affected areas.
Governor Mike DeWine stated, “DuPont ignored the fact that the chemicals they were releasing were toxic, and this settlement ensures that they are held responsible for the pollution they knowingly caused to the environment.”
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, pose long-term health risks, including kidney and liver damage, and certain types of cancer. These chemicals are resilient and take thousands of years to break down.
The bulk of the settlement money will be allocated to clean-up efforts in Southeast Ohio, with 80% designated to address pollution at the Washington Works plant in Washington County. Additionally, 16% will address damages from firefighting foam made using PFAS, and 4% will mitigate damage to natural resources.
A Dayton Daily News investigation revealed that numerous public water systems detected toxic, man-made chemicals, and the Miami Valley served as the starting point for a state-led study of PFAS chemicals in Ohio’s water.
The state had filed its lawsuit against DuPont in 2018 in Washington County, alleging the release of PFOA-containing emissions and discharges into the air and Ohio River despite knowledge of the health and environmental risks.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost commented, “This settlement has been a long time coming. We are pleased to have the flexibility through this agreement to advocate for the health of Ohioans and our state’s environment.”
On Monday, a class action suit against DuPont and 3M Co. was dismissed in a federal appeals court in Ohio. While the dismissed class action was among thousands of suits filed against producers of the toxic chemicals, public water systems in Bellbrook and Fairborn were recently named in a $10.3 billion settlement with PFAS manufacturer 3M Co. Leaders of these cities plan to use the settlement money to address PFAS in their water.
