Did you know that New Jersey is among the most PFAS-contaminated (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) states in the U.S., partly because the chemicals were first developed there in the 1930s? This historical legacy continues to shape environmental and legal battles in the state today.
Last week, 3M reached a significant settlement with the State of New Jersey to resolve present and future claims related to PFAs contamination. The agreement, announced on May 12, 2025, covers all claims associated with the Chambers Works manufacturing facility in Salem County – a site with a long history of chemical production, including PFAs, which 3M supplied to DuPont until 2001.
The settlement requires 3M to pay up to $450 million over 25 years, with an immediate pre-tax charge of about $285 million. The deal averts a trial that was scheduled to begin on May 19, 2025, and addresses both current and future environmental liabilities stemming from PFA pollution at the site.
The public has increasingly begun to demand accountability for ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure from emitters of the dangerous chemical. In a number of states, litigation has arisen due to environmental exposure to EtO. Our firm was a co-lead counsel in a case against a facility that emitted EtO into a residential community for decades. The case led to a global settlement of over $400 million.
These cases highlight growing accountability for companies whose chemical emissions have caused widespread environmental contamination and health risks.
In areas where contamination has been detected, residents have become more informed and vocal, demanding accountability and remediation. Media coverage of health risks and environmental impacts has heightened national attention, leading to widespread public demand for stricter regulation and corporate responsibility.
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