Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva agreed to pay $455 million to settle North Carolina's forever chemicals claims

Free daily briefing on global business news.

Payments will be made over 15 years to the state and 11 local communities excluded from a 2024 national water system settlement

AFP / Getty Images

On Thursday, Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva agreed to pay $455 million to resolve PFAS contamination claims brought by North Carolina and 11 local entities, stemming from the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant and other historical discharges.

The settlement covers litigation filed by the state and local governments over PFAS and other historical discharges from Fayetteville Works, along with North Carolina's allegations of PFAS pollution from sources unconnected to that facility, among them the use of aqueous film-forming foam. The companies said disbursements will begin within 30 days of execution and continue across a 15-year span.

Pursuant to a 2021 memorandum of understanding, Chemours is responsible for half of all settlement payments, with DuPont and Corteva each covering a quarter. Chemours expects to pay approximately $50 million over the next 12 months. Of the total amount, $18 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to Fayetteville Works, of which no more than $14.4 million can be ascribed to aqueous film-forming foam.

Recipients include Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Robeson, and Sampson counties, along with the Town of Wrightsville Beach, the City of Lumberton, the Village of Bald Head Island, and the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority. None of the 11 entities had been included in the $1.2 billion U.S. Public Water System class settlement that received court approval in 2024, the companies said.

State officials value the total agreement at $590 million, which includes a separate $135 million reserve that DuPont and Corteva will establish as security in case Chemours becomes unable to fulfill its obligations under a 2019 consent order with the state, according to WRAL. Among the order's central obligations is ensuring that residents with PFAS-tainted private wells receive filtration systems or alternative sources of drinking water.

"Out of this $590 million settlement, $380 million will be allocated to go directly to the local communities that were most impacted," North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said Thursday in Cumberland County, according to WRAL.

The settlement also establishes procedures for completing remaining consent order obligations related to off-site areas, including implementing drinking-water programs, Chemours said. The agreement does not affect an ongoing lawsuit brought by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority against Chemours and DuPont, according to WRAL.

PFAS, commonly called forever chemicals, are manufactured substances that do not readily break down once released into the environment. For decades, the Fayetteville Works facility released PFAS into the Cape Fear River and surrounding groundwater, soil, and air. North Carolina sued Chemours, DuPont, and related companies in 2020, according to WRAL.

Join 500,000+ readers who start their day with Quartz.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Global business news for a smarter world

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Dismiss

Opt out