The Trump administration has reached a multistate settlement with chemical manufacturer Chemours Co. to address years of illegal discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” The agreement, filed Wednesday in federal court in West Virginia, marks the first federal enforcement action resolving claims against a manufacturer of these persistent environmental pollutants.
Under the settlement, Chemours, a DuPont spin-off, will pay a $22.5 million civil penalty and invest at least $90 million over 15 years to mitigate PFAS discharges in West Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey. In addition, the company has committed to spending approximately $60 million to install pollution controls at its West Virginia facility, and about $280 million to supply clean drinking water to communities near its West Virginia and New Jersey sites. Controls to reduce PFAS and other toxic chemical releases will also be implemented at the North Carolina facility, based on a pending independent assessment.
Together, these measures amount to a package valued at an estimated $450 million, according to the Justice Department. The settlement permits Chemours to continue manufacturing PFAS for commercial and military purposes while seeking to prevent future contamination and remediate existing pollution.
Adam Gustafson, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, emphasized that the agreement safeguards public health while recognizing Chemours’ industrial roles. Jeffrey Hall, assistant EPA administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, described the settlement as fulfilling a promise to hold polluters accountable and reduce PFAS contamination of water, land, and air.
Chemours stated that it has begun planning and implementing operational improvements to limit future emissions and strengthen existing environmental programs. A company spokeswoman noted that the settlement offers greater clarity on compliance expectations, supporting long-term responsible manufacturing.
The deal arises amid expectations that the Trump administration will propose easing certain Biden-era PFAS drinking water limits, although retaining stricter standards for two common PFAS types. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin affirmed the agency’s commitment to addressing PFAS risks while ensuring regulatory requirements remain achievable for water systems.
PFAS discharges from Chemours’ facilities have contaminated the Ohio, Cape Fear, and Delaware rivers over more than a decade, violating Clean Water Act permits and state laws, as well as the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. These violations led to illegal exposure of nearby populations to PFAS, which studies have linked to adverse health effects including increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and developmental problems.
Last year, a federal judge ordered Chemours to cease unlawful discharges of cancer-causing chemicals from its West Virginia plant, highlighting the environmental and public health dangers. A separate state case involving DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva resulted in a $2 billion settlement with New Jersey, which remains unaffected by the federal agreement.
Despite the settlement’s scope, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson criticized the deal as inadequate, particularly for the state’s ongoing GenX contamination. Jackson described the settlement as “an insult” that falls short of adequately cleaning up water supplies, underscoring persistent concerns about the company’s accountability for environmental damage in the region.
The federal consent decree requires Chemours to deploy multiple treatment systems to reduce PFAS in wastewater, stormwater, and groundwater near its West Virginia operations, and to provide treated or alternative drinking water near affected sites. The agreement represents a significant federal effort to confront the legacy of PFAS pollution linked to a major chemical manufacturer.