The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Department of Justice (DOJ), and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) have reached a landmark $450 million settlement with Chemours.

 

This marks the first comprehensive federal enforcement action against a major manufacturer of PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals."

 

Federal regulators allege Chemours illegally discharged PFAS into the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, the Delaware River in New Jersey, and the Ohio River in West Virginia—either without required permits or in violation of permit limits.

 

Under the agreement, Chemours will spend more than $337 million on corrective measures, including an estimated $280 million to provide alternative drinking water to affected communities and approximately $60 million to bring its West Virginia facility into compliance with environmental laws. 

 

The company will also invest additional funds to improve compliance at other facilities and carry out a government-supervised, multi-year $90 million PFAS mitigation program.

 

The settlement resolves alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act. Regulators say the agreement reinforces EPA's "polluter pays" policy by holding manufacturers accountable for PFAS contamination.

 

“This first comprehensive federal settlement against a major PFAS manufacturer delivers on the Trump Administration’s promise to make polluters pay and stop PFAS contamination at the source,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. 

 

“By appropriately employing the full suite of existing legal authorities, we can greatly reduce PFAS contamination of water, land, and air and even begin to mitigate past harm. This settlement brings Chemours into compliance with the law and holds it fully accountable.”

 

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer products because they resist water, grease, and stains. They persist in the environment and the human body and have been linked to serious health risks.

 

Officials said the settlement addresses alleged unauthorized wastewater discharges, permit violations, hazardous waste management failures, and violations of federal restrictions governing PFAS releases into air and water.

 

“This landmark settlement shows the Administration’s commitment to protecting the public from harmful water pollution,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). 

 

“Through this commitment, Chemours will better control PFAS at its plants, allowing the company to continue its manufacturing operations while protecting communities in North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Jersey from PFAS exposure. This agreement ensures that the company will manufacture these critical materials in a responsible manner.”

 

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said the agreement represents progress but does not resolve every concern surrounding the company's operations.

 

"As Attorney General, my office investigated Chemours and took crucial steps needed to reach this settlement and position the state to reach justice for West Virginians - we will continue to ensure that every company complies with our laws," said Governor Morrisey. 

 

"This settlement is an encouraging first step, but it addresses only one piece of a much larger issue. We remain actively engaged in discussions to reach a comprehensive resolution for the Washington Works facility that protects our citizens and ensures West Virginia's communities have confidence that these issues are being addressed for the long term. We look forward to continuing those discussions and achieving an outcome that serves the best interests of the Mountain State."