North Carolina and 11 local entities reach $455 million PFAS settlement

Payments will span 15 years under the agreement

North Carolina and 11 local entities reached a $455 million settlement with Chemours, DuPont and Corteva on Thursday over PFAS contamination claims, the Guardian reported. The claims involve Chemours’ Fayetteville Works plant and other historical discharges.

PFAS are toxic pollutants referred to as “forever chemicals.” Lawsuits accusing major chemical companies of polluting US drinking water with PFAS have led to settlements worth billions of dollars, according to the Guardian.

The North Carolina agreement resolves lawsuits brought by the state and local governments that were excluded from the US public water system class settlement approved in 2024, the Guardian reported.

The settlement also covers North Carolina’s claims over PFAS contamination unrelated to Fayetteville Works, including pollution linked to aqueous film-forming foam.

Payments will be made over 15 years, beginning within 30 days of the agreement’s execution, Chemours said Thursday. The company expects to pay about $50 million over the next 12 months.

Under a 2021 agreement among the three companies, Chemours will bear 50% of the settlement cost. DuPont and Corteva will split the remainder, the Guardian reported.

Chemours said the settlement recognizes progress under its 2019 consent order with North Carolina. The company cited investments to cut PFAS emissions and address off-site impacts.

The settlement follows another agreement reached by Chemours, DuPont and Corteva in New Jersey last year over similar claims, the Guardian reported.