Chemours To Pay US$ 450 Mn In PFAS Settlement
Chemours Co. has agreed to a settlement worth approximately US$ 450 million with the U.S. government and multiple states over allegations of illegally discharging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” The agreement marks the first federal enforcement settlement against a PFAS manufacturer.
Filed in a federal court in West Virginia, the settlement requires Chemours to pay a US$ 22.5 million civil penalty and invest US$ 90 million over the next 15 years to reduce PFAS discharges in West Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey.
The company will also install PFAS pollution control systems for air emissions and wastewater at its West Virginia facility at an estimated cost of US$ 60 million. In addition, Chemours will provide clean drinking water to communities near its West Virginia and New Jersey operations, with investments estimated at US$ 280 million.
The agreement further requires the company to implement additional measures to reduce PFAS and other hazardous chemical releases from its North Carolina facility, based on the findings of an independent environmental assessment.
PFAS are widely used in industrial and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water and grease, but they have been linked to long-term environmental contamination and potential health risks.
