{"id":2018984,"date":"2023-09-01T04:09:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3m-agrees-to-12-5-billion-settlement-for-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water\/"},"modified":"2023-09-01T04:14:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:14:25","slug":"3m-agrees-to-12-5-billion-settlement-for-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3m-agrees-to-12-5-billion-settlement-for-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water\/","title":{"rendered":"3M to pay $12.5B settlement for &#8216;Forever Chemicals&#8217; in water."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F3m-agrees-to-12-5-billion-settlement-for-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2018984&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>Chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to significant changes in a \u2063revised settlement proposal with several\u200b U.S.\u200c public drinking water systems that would resolve \u200dallegations of contamination by &#8220;forever chemicals,&#8221; with the new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3m-agrees-to-12-5-billion-settlement-for-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water\/\" title=\"3M to pay .5B settlement for 'Forever Chemicals' in water.\">settlement terms including paying billions<\/a> of dollars more than previously agreed.<\/p>\n<p>The invisible man-made chemicals that are the subject of the settlement are called per- and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tuesday-afternoon-update-u-s-drone-russian-fighter-jet-crash-banking-update-bye-bye-forever-chemicals\/\" title=\"Tuesday Afternoon Update: U.S. Drone-Russian Fighter Jet Crash, Banking Update, Bye-Bye \u2018Forever Chemicals\u2019?\">poly-fluoroalkyl substances<\/a> (PFAS), which are known for their resistance to grease, oil, \u200dwater, \u200dand heat. They are colloquially\u2062 referred to as <strong>\u201cforever chemicals&#8221;<\/strong> because they don&#8217;t easily break down in the human body or the environment.<\/p>\n<p>The new settlement resolves objections brought by a coalition of\u200c 22 attorneys general to the <a href=\"https:\/\/investors.3m.com\/news-events\/press-releases\/detail\/1784\/3m-resolves-claims-by-public-water-suppliers-supports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">prior settlement<\/a> 3M agreed to in June over a \u200dprovision that could have left taxpayers liable for future damages related to PFAS pollution.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/3m-agrees-to-6-billion-settlement-over-us-military-earplugs-that-allegedly-caused-hearing-loss-5482971\">3M Agrees to $6 Billion Settlement Over US Military Earplugs That Allegedly\u200d Caused Hearing Loss<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/30\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/3m-agrees-to-6-billion-settlement-over-us-military-earplugs-that-allegedly-caused-hearing-loss-5482971\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/3m-settles-forever-chemicals-case-for-10-3b-attorney-for-plaintiffs-scott-summy-on-the-historic-case-5357672\">3M Settles &#8216;Forever Chemicals&#8217; Case for $10.3 Billion: Attorney for Plaintiffs Scott Summy on Historic Case<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">6\/26\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/3m-settles-forever-chemicals-case-for-10-3b-attorney-for-plaintiffs-scott-summy-on-the-historic-case-5357672\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In New York State, PFAS have been detected \u2062in nearly 40 percent of public drinking water supplies, according\u2062 to the \u200dNew York State Department of Health, with the state having spent tens of millions of dollars in PFAS cleanup-related costs.<\/p>\n<h2>More \u2064Details<\/h2>\n<p>According to an Aug. 28 filing (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pfaswaterprovidersettlement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023.08.28-ECF-3620-Consent-Motion-Exhibits.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>) with the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina in 3M&#8217;s ongoing class action <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pfaswaterprovidersettlement.com\/documents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">product liability litigation<\/a>, the company\u200c has agreed to a number of key \u2063changes to its prior settlement agreement\u2014including bringing the total payout from $10.5 billion\u2063 up to a maximum of \u2062$12.5 billion.<\/p>\n<p>The boost in the amount of money 3M has agreed \u200bto pay to settle litigation is\u200d related to the fact that the company agreed to remove provisions that required\u200b public water systems to waive their legal claims against 3M without knowing\u2062 what settlement funds they could receive, <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.ny.gov\/press-release\/2023\/attorney-general-james-secures-critical-improvements-proposed-multibillion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to<\/a> the New York Attorney General&#8217;s office, which was a\u200d party to the litigation, along with over 20 other states.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Critically, \u2064the settlement contained provisions that would have required water providers to assume future liability, potentially leaving taxpayers to cover the costs of damages caused by 3M\u2019s pollution,&#8221; the New York AG&#8217;s office said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Removal of the uncapped indemnity in\u2063 favor of 3M significantly increases the value of the settlement for water systems, which \u2064have 90 days to review the terms and\u2063 decide whether they want to opt-out.<\/p>\n<p>Also, \u200bclaims by\u200b states and the federal government have been removed from the new settlement agreement, allowing\u200b for additional future \u2064action and settlements against 3M.<\/p>\n<p>Under the new\u200c agreement terms, 3M does\u2063 not admit to \u200bany wrongdoing\u200b or liability.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;3M, while continuing to deny any \u2063violation, wrongdoing, or liability with respect to any and all Claims asserted or that could be asserted in the Litigation, either on\u200b its\u200d part\u200d or on \u200cthe part\u2062 of any of \u2064the Released Parties, and while continuing to specifically deny and dispute the scientific, medical, factual, \u2062and other bases\u200d asserted\u2063 in support of those Claims, has nevertheless concluded that it will enter into this Settlement Agreement in order to, among other things, avoid the expense, inconvenience, risks, uncertainties, and distraction of further litigation,&#8221; the new proposed settlement reads.<\/p>\n<p>3M did not respond to a request for comment on \u200bthe new settlement \u2062from The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n<p>However, the company&#8217;s chairman and CEO Mike Roman said when 3M <a href=\"https:\/\/investors.3m.com\/news-events\/press-releases\/detail\/1784\/3m-resolves-claims-by-public-water-suppliers-supports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced the earlier\u200c settlement<\/a> agreement that the company \u2062would exit all PFAS manufacturing by \u200cthe end of\u2062 2025\u200b and called the\u200c agreement &#8220;an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-omar-act-seeks-to-stop-lawmakers-from-enriching-spouses\/\" title=\"Republicans\u2019 \u2018OMAR Act\u2019 Seeks To Stop Lawmakers From Enriching Spouses\">important step forward<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>New York AG Letitia James said that, with the revised settlement, \u200bshe\u2063 and the other 20-plus attorneys general have agreed to withdraw \u200ctheir objection \u200bto the agreement with 3M.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCorporate polluters like 3M should not be able to duck responsibility for contaminating \u2064our waters with toxic \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 that have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3m-forever-chemicals-settlement-advances-but-some-ags-unhappy-with-payout\/\" title=\"3M's settlement for 'forever chemicals' progresses, but some AGs dissatisfied with payout.\">caused devastating health problems<\/a>,\u201d Ms. James said. \u201cThis new agreement will ensure 3M is held accountable and I\u2063 will continue to use the\u2064 full force of my office to fight for New Yorkers\u2019 right to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/houston-residents-wait-in-long-lines-for-safe-drinking-water\/\" title=\"Houston residents wait in long lines for safe drinking water\">clean drinking water<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference in New York on Sept. 21, 2022. (Brittainy Newman\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Other Claims<\/h2>\n<p>3M still faces thousands of lawsuits alleging PFAS contamination that were not part of the\u200d latest settlement. Among the lawsuits \u2064are those filed by people with personal injury and property damage claims. Some \u2063states have also f<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;forever chemicals.&#8221; 3M, a chemical manufacturer, has agreed to revised settlement terms with multiple U.S. public drinking water systems. The settlement aims to address allegations of contamination caused by these invisible man-made chemicals. The new terms require 3M to pay billions of dollars more than the previous agreement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":2018985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2018984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2018984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2018985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2018984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2018984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2018984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}