The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a multistate settlement with chemical manufacturer Chemours Co. over alleged illegal discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemicals frequently used for their water-, grease-, and stain-resistant properties. This settlement marks the first federal enforcement resolution involving a major PFAS producer.
Filed in federal court in West Virginia, the agreement requires Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont, to pay a $22.5 million civil penalty and commit at least $90 million over 15 years toward mitigating PFAS contamination in West Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey. The broader remediation and penalty measures are estimated to cost approximately $450 million.
As part of the settlement, Chemours agreed to install pollution control systems to reduce PFAS discharges into surface water and air from a facility in West Virginia, with an estimated cost of $60 million. Additionally, the company will provide clean drinking water to communities near its West Virginia and New Jersey plants, at a projected cost of $280 million, and take measures to limit releases of PFAS and other toxic chemicals from its North Carolina site following an independent assessment.
Officials from the Department of Justice emphasized that the settlement balances public health protection with Chemours’ continued production of PFAS for commercial and military applications. Adam Gustafson, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, said the agreement aims to prevent future contamination while addressing existing pollution impacts.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, Jeffrey Hall, described the settlement as fulfilling the administration's commitment to "make polluters pay" and to curb PFAS contamination. He noted the agreement would significantly reduce PFAS pollution across water, land, and air and begin to remediate previous harms.
However, the settlement has drawn criticism from some state officials. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson labeled the agreement “an insult to the people of eastern North Carolina,” asserting that Chemours should fully take responsibility for the contamination it caused and undertake comprehensive cleanup obligations.
The consent decree specifies 14 treatment systems to reduce PFAS levels in wastewater, stormwater, and groundwater at the West Virginia facility. It also requires ongoing water testing near the affected sites in West Virginia and New Jersey, with Chemours providing treated or alternative drinking water when necessary.
Government officials indicated that the company’s operations had discharged PFAS into major waterways, including the Ohio River, Cape Fear River, and Delaware River, in violation of permits governed by the Clean Water Act and corresponding state laws. Exposure to PFAS has raised health concerns due to links with adverse effects found in both humans and wildlife.
Chemours stated it has already begun implementing operational upgrades to mitigate emissions and enhance environmental safeguards in accordance with the settlement. The company’s commitments under this agreement mark a significant step in federal efforts to regulate and address the environmental and public health challenges posed by PFAS pollution.