Chemical manufacturer 3M will pay up to US$7.35 billion over nine years to settle lawsuits by people who say they were sickened by groundwater contamination from PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foam and consumer products, the St Paul, Minnesota-based company announced on Tuesday, local time. The agreement covers as many as 120,000 people and does not include an admission of liability.
The chemicals contaminated groundwater near military bases, airports and other locations where the foam was used to extinguish fires. PFAS, called "forever chemicals" because they do not degrade naturally in the environment, have been linked to health problems including liver and immune system damage and some cancers, and are also used in non-stick and water- and grease-resistant products including clothing and cookware.
3M chairman William Brown called the settlement a significant milestone that substantially reduced uncertainty from the litigation. The company previously reached settlements in other PFAS-related lawsuits, including a US$450 million agreement with New Jersey over natural resource contamination and a deal to pay more than US$10 billion to many US public drinking water systems. Other manufacturers, including DuPont de Nemours Inc and spinoffs Chemours Co and Corteva Inc, have agreed to settlements totalling more than US$1 billion to resolve PFAS claims.
Fred Thompson, an attorney with the Motley Rice law firm that helped negotiate the settlement for the plaintiffs, called it welcome news for "the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade". He said in a news release that the plaintiffs urgently needed help covering mounting medical bills and other costs.
Under the terms of the settlement, payouts will begin with US$50 million this year, followed by yearly payments of more than US$1 billion from 2028 to 2033. 3M could make additional payments if enough plaintiffs participate; if too few sign on, it has the option to cancel the settlement and continue fighting the lawsuit.
Environmental activists said PFAS manufacturers knew about the chemicals' health risks long before they became public, and noted that the same attributes that made the chemicals valuable, their resistance to breakdown, also made them hazardous to people. The Environmental Protection Agency has set strict limits on PFAS in drinking water from public utilities and requires testing, but those rules do not apply to private wells. A study that would help federal regulators understand which industries release the chemicals with their wastewater has been stalled for two years, awaiting review by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Communities with PFAS-contaminated groundwater near military bases, airports and other sites could be eligible for compensation, with payouts beginning this year.
- The agreement adds to a wave of industry settlements and may shape how manufacturers account for contamination, though 3M admitted no liability.
- Federal regulation remains partial: EPA limits apply to public utilities but not private wells, and a study on which industries release PFAS is stalled.
Background
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in firefighting foam and consumer products because they resist heat, water and grease. That same resistance to breakdown means they persist in the environment, earning them the name "forever chemicals", and exposure has been linked to liver and immune system damage and some cancers. The chemicals contaminated groundwater at sites where firefighting foam was used to extinguish fires.
Key Perspectives
3M: Chairman William Brown called the settlement a significant milestone that substantially reduced uncertainty from the litigation. The company did not admit liability under the agreement.
Fred Thompson, Motley Rice attorney for the plaintiffs: called the settlement welcome news for "the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade", saying plaintiffs urgently needed help covering mounting medical bills and other costs.
Environmental activists: said PFAS manufacturers knew about the chemicals' health risks long before they became public, and that the resistance to breakdown that made the chemicals valuable also made them hazardous.
What to Watch
- Whether enough plaintiffs sign on: if too few participate, 3M has the option to cancel the settlement and continue fighting the lawsuit.
- Whether the White House Office of Management and Budget clears the stalled EPA study on which industries release PFAS with their wastewater.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- Supported3M will pay up to US$7.35 billion to settle PFAS groundwater lawsuits.Just In: “Chemical manufacturer 3M will pay up to $US7.35 billion to settle lawsuits by people who say they were sickened by groundwater contamination from compounds used in firefighting foam and other consumer products.”
- SupportedThe settlement runs for nine years.Just In: “It will pay the money over nine years to as many as 120,000 people who say they were harmed by exposure to PFAS.”
- SupportedThe agreement covers up to 120,000 people.Just In: “It will pay the money over nine years to as many as 120,000 people who say they were harmed by exposure to PFAS.”
- Supported3M did not admit liability under the agreement.Just In: “3M did not admit liability for the contamination under the agreement.”
- SupportedThe lawsuits are by people who say they were sickened by groundwater contamination from PFAS compounds used in firefighting foam and consumer products.Just In: “Chemical manufacturer 3M will pay up to $US7.35 billion to settle lawsuits by people who say they were sickened by groundwater contamination from compounds used in firefighting foam and other consumer products.”
- SupportedThe St Paul-based company announced the settlement on Tuesday, local time.Just In: “The St Paul, Minnesota-based company announced the settlement on Tuesday, local time.”
- SupportedPFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade naturally in the environment.Just In: “Called "forever chemicals" because they do not degrade naturally in the environment, PFAS have been linked to health problems including liver and immune system damage and some cancers.”
- Supported3M chairman William Brown called the settlement a significant milestone that substantially reduced uncertainty from the litigation.Just In: “3M chairman William Brown called the settlement a significant milestone that substantially reduced uncertainty from the litigation.”
- SupportedFred Thompson called the settlement welcome news for “the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade”.Just In: “Fred Thompson, an attorney with the Motley Rice law firm that helped negotiate the 3M settlement for the plaintiffs, called it welcome news for "the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade".”
- SupportedPayments begin with US$50 million this year, followed by yearly payments of more than US$1 billion from 2028 to 2033.Just In: “the payouts will begin with $US50 million this year, followed by yearly payments of more than $US1 billion each year from 2028 to 2033.”
- Supported3M can cancel the settlement and continue fighting the lawsuit if too few plaintiffs sign on.Just In: “If too few sign on, 3M has the option to cancel the settlement and continue fighting the lawsuit.”
- SupportedEPA limits and testing rules for PFAS in drinking water from public utilities do not apply to private wells.Just In: “The Environmental Protection Agency has set strict limits on PFAS in drinking water from public utilities and requires testing, but those rules do not apply to private wells.”
