New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced a landmark settlement of up to $450 million with 3M to resolve the State’s 2019 lawsuits and a Statewide Directive to address damage to the State’s water and other natural resources from dangerous chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” The settlement announced today involving 3M is the largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history. “Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state’s water supply. For decades, 3M knew that their PFAS chemicals were forever contaminating the New Jersey environment. But they continued to pollute the environment and escape accountability. That ends now,” said Attorney General Platkin. “New Jersey has some of the highest levels of PFAS in the country. That’s why New Jersey has been leading the national charge against corporate polluters who contaminate our drinking water and harm our state’s communities. Today’s settlement marks the latest chapter in our office’s efforts to combat PFAS contamination and protect access to clean water. We look forward to pursuing everyone else who had a role in contaminating New Jersey with PFAS, and we will see many of them at trial on Monday.”