In May 2025, 3M agreed to pay up to $450 million to settle New Jersey’s PFAS contamination claims, one of the state’s largest environmental settlements. The deal targets pollution from “forever chemicals” at 3M’s Pennsville and Sayreville sites, linked to health risks like kidney, liver, and testicular cancer, plus autoimmune and developmental issues. Payments, starting in 2026, will fund drinking water treatment and remediation over 25 years, pending court approval. New Jersey’s lawsuits, filed in 2019, accused 3M of polluting water and soil with PFAS, used in products like firefighting foam. The state leads in enforcing strict PFAS standards, securing over $2.45 billion from polluters, including DuPont and Chemours. This settlement ensures long-term cleanup and public health protection while holding corporations accountable for environmental damage.
Long Version
Landmark $450 Million Settlement: 3M Addresses New Jersey’s PFAS Contamination Crisis
In May 2025, multinational corporation 3M reached a historic agreement to pay up to $450 million to resolve New Jersey’s longstanding claims over widespread PFAS contamination, marking one of the largest statewide settlements in the state’s history for environmental damages caused by these persistent pollutants. This deal, announced by Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, targets pollution from “forever chemicals” linked to 3M’s operations at key industrial sites, underscoring New Jersey’s role as a national leader in combating synthetic chemicals that threaten public health and natural resources.
Understanding PFAS: The Forever Chemicals
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of fluorochemicals engineered for their resistance to heat, water, and stains, making them integral to consumer products like nonstick cookware and industrial products such as firefighting foam, known as AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam). Often dubbed forever chemicals due to their inability to break down in the environment, PFAS include specific compounds like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), which accumulate in environmental media, including soil, groundwater, and surface water. This persistence leads to chronic contamination of drinking water supplies and public water systems, posing severe risks to ecosystems and human populations. 3M, a major producer, has committed to phasing out all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025, reflecting growing regulatory pressure.
Health Impacts of PFAS Exposure
The health implications of PFAS exposure are profound and well-documented. These hazardous substances are recognized as carcinogens, with links to kidney cancer, liver cancer, and testicular cancer. Beyond oncology, they contribute to autoimmune disorders, endocrine disorders, and developmental issues in children, including impacts on growth and learning. Studies have shown PFAS can cross the placental barrier, affecting unborn fetuses, and persist in the bloodstream for years, exacerbating public health concerns in contaminated areas. New Jersey, grappling with some of the highest PFAS levels nationwide, has conducted extensive statewide occurrence studies to map these threats, establishing enforceable drinking water standards and maximum contaminant levels that surpass federal guidelines.
The Contaminated Sites: Pennsville, Carneys Point, and Sayreville
At the heart of this litigation are 3M’s legacy claims tied to manufacturing activities at the Chambers Works facility in Pennsville and Carneys Point, Salem County, and the Parlin facility in Sayreville, Middlesex County. The Chambers Works site, spanning nearly 1,500 acres, has a storied industrial past, originally operated by DuPont before 3M’s involvement in supplying PFAS materials until 2001. Similarly, the Parlin site has been implicated in releasing these chemicals into local waterways and soils. Investigations revealed that 3M, as one of the dominant producers of PFAS, knowingly contributed to pollution through wastewater discharge and other practices, despite internal awareness of the risks dating back decades. These sites have led to widespread contamination, affecting nearby communities and requiring ongoing monitoring and cleanup efforts.
Legal Background and Proceedings
The legal proceedings trace back to 2019, when New Jersey filed lawsuits against 3M and other corporate polluters, including DuPont, Chemours, and Solvay Specialty Polymers, under the DEP’s Statewide Directive. These actions sought compensation for natural resource damages (NRD), remediation of contaminated sites, and abatement of ongoing threats. The complaints alleged that 3M’s role in producing and distributing PFAS led to widespread environmental injuries, including pollution of natural resources and water supplies. This settlement averts a trial that was set to begin shortly after the announcement, resolving PFAS-related claims without admitting liability but acknowledging the need for accountability. The agreement also addresses claims related to PFAS in aqueous film-forming foam and resolves all present and future statewide PFAS-related claims against 3M.
Details of the Settlement Agreement
Under the terms, 3M commits to payments structured over an extended schedule, potentially spanning up to 25 years, beginning with substantial installments in 2026. Initial disbursements include $43.45 million for NRD at Chambers Works and $16.55 million for PFAS abatement projects, such as drinking water treatment and infrastructure upgrades. The total could reach $450 million, incorporating offsetting credits for prior remediation efforts by 3M. Additional payments include $40 million to cover fees, costs, and punitive damages. Funds will support statewide initiatives, including monitoring public water systems, implementing abatement projects, and addressing legacy claims from historical discharges. This structure ensures sustained investment in environmental recovery, pending public comment and court approval. Furthermore, 3M is required to continue investigating and remediating PFAS contamination at its former facilities in New Jersey where such pollution has been identified.
Financial Implications for 3M
Financially, 3M anticipates recording a pre-tax charge of about $285 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting adjustments in its legal proceedings and risk factors. The company has framed this as part of forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, emphasizing resolution of these disputes to mitigate future uncertainties. However, this does not impact private lawsuits from individuals affected by PFAS, nor does it halt ongoing multidistrict AFFF litigation where 3M faces broader national scrutiny. The settlement represents another step in reducing 3M’s exposure to PFAS liabilities, following previous agreements like the $850 million deal with Minnesota in 2018 and a nationwide $12.5 billion settlement with public water suppliers in 2023.
Broader Context: Other Settlements and State Leadership
This agreement builds on New Jersey’s aggressive stance against PFAS polluters. In August 2025, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to a record $2 billion settlement for similar contamination at sites like Chambers Works and Parlin, further highlighting the interconnected roles of these manufacturers. Together, these deals exceed $2.45 billion in commitments, positioning New Jersey at the forefront of environmental enforcement. The state’s history of pioneering regulations, including early adoption of stringent standards for PFOA and PFOS, has set a benchmark for other jurisdictions battling these persistent toxins. Including the 3M settlement, New Jersey has secured commitments totaling approximately $840 million from various corporations for PFAS-related damages, with additional funds from a 2023 $393 million deal with Solvay for contamination in Gloucester County.
Implications for Public Health and Environmental Protection
Beyond compensation, the settlement mandates continued investigation and remediation at affected sites, ensuring long-term PFAS abatement and protection of vulnerable communities. For residents near Pennsville, Carneys Point, Sayreville, and beyond, this represents a critical step toward restoring clean water and mitigating health risks from these insidious chemicals. The funds will be used to protect public health, safety, and the environment, including upgrades to drinking water treatment systems and abatement of PFAS leaching from landfills and remote areas. Yet, it also serves as a stark reminder of the costs of unchecked industrial practices—damages that extend far beyond financial penalties, into the realms of punitive accountability and societal well-being.
Conclusion: A Model for Accountability
As PFAS contamination persists globally, New Jersey’s model offers valuable insights: rigorous litigation, combined with proactive policy, can hold corporate entities liable for environmental harms. This not only funds necessary recovery but also deters future pollution, safeguarding public health and natural resources for generations to come. The settlement underscores the importance of addressing legacy pollution while pushing for stricter controls on hazardous substances, ensuring a cleaner future amid ongoing challenges from synthetic chemicals.
