the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON, NJ – In a major environmental victory, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette have announced a record-breaking $2 billion settlement to address widespread contamination from toxic PFAS chemicals and other pollutants. This is the largest environmental settlement ever reached by a single U.S. state.
The agreement will fund cleanup efforts across four major contaminated sites in New Jersey and provide compensation for natural resource damages, abatement, and safe drinking water projects.
What Are PFAS and Why Are They a Concern?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals,” have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. They don’t degrade over time, accumulating in the environment and in human bodies. PFAS exposure has been linked to various health risks, including:
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Kidney, liver, and testicular cancer
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Autoimmune and endocrine disorders
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Developmental issues in infants and fetuses
Details of the Historic Settlement
The settlement resolves the Chambers Works case, a 2019 lawsuit filed against E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. and affiliated companies. It also settles three additional lawsuits involving contamination at:
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Pompton Lakes Works (Passaic County)
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Parlin site (Middlesex County)
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Repauno site (Gloucester County)
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Chambers Works (Salem County)
Key components of the settlement include:
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$875 million for natural resource damages and abatement funds
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$1.2 billion for future remediation
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$475 million in reserve funding in case of corporate default
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Cleanup of all four contaminated sites
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Drinking water treatment initiatives across the state
Past and Parallel Victories
New Jersey’s legal actions since 2019 have recovered more than $3 billion from polluters. Highlights include:
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3M agreed to pay up to $450 million in May 2025
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Solvay Specialty Polymers agreed to $393 million in 2023
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Arkema Inc. settled for nearly $109 million in 2024
Comments from State Leaders
“When I became Attorney General, I made it clear that holding corporate polluters accountable would be a top priority,” said Attorney General Platkin. “This settlement is a win for the people of New Jersey and our environment.”
“This landmark resolution strengthens New Jersey’s national leadership in PFAS cleanup,” added Commissioner LaTourette. “Polluters must pay to clean up their mess.”
Next Steps
The DuPont settlement will be published in the New Jersey Register for public comment and is subject to final approval by the U.S. District Court. The 3M settlement is already open for public comment through September 19, 2025.
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Interested in the true final destination of that $
Exactly. No settlement money will go to pay for your kidney and gonad cancer chemo, that’s for sure.