US says chemical giant Chemours to pay $450m to settle ‘forever chemicals’ case

The Trump administration has reached a multi-state settlement with chemical giant Chemours Co. for illegal discharges of "forever chemicals," known as PFAS. Under the agreement, filed in federal court in West Virginia, Chemours will pay $22.5 million in civil penalties and invest at least $450 million in total for pollution controls, clean drinking water for affected communities, and mitigation efforts in West Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey. This marks the first federal government settlement to resolve enforcement claims against a major PFAS manufacturer. The Justice Department stated the settlement aims to reduce PFAS contamination and protect public health while allowing Chemours to continue manufacturing for commercial and military uses. The violations, which occurred over a decade, involved discharges into rivers and violated the Clean Water Act and Toxic Substances Control Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a $450 million settlement with chemical company Chemours Co. to resolve claims of illegal discharges of "forever chemicals," known as PFAS. This marks the first federal enforcement action against a PFAS manufacturer. Chemours will pay a $22.5 million civil penalty and invest $90 million over 15 years for mitigation efforts in West Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey. The company will also install pollution controls at its West Virginia facility, provide clean drinking water to communities near its West Virginia and New Jersey sites, and implement controls to reduce releases from its North Carolina facility. The settlement aims to prevent future contamination and protect communities from existing pollution while allowing Chemours to continue manufacturing PFAS for commercial and military uses.