State and local governments across the country are suing manufacturers of toxic chemicals that are contaminating much of the nation’s drinking water, aiming to shield water customers and taxpayers from the massive cost of cleaning them up
Officials from across the political spectrum are targeting a small number of companies, including 3M, DuPont and its spinoffs, that made most of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are now ubiquitous in water, soil, and even human blood. One nonprofit, the Environmental Working Group, estimatesIn Florida, Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody sued more than a dozen companies in April, alleging water supplies throughout the state are contaminated by PFAS.
The federal infrastructure law set aside $10 billion to help agencies such as the Orange County Water District, which is moving to build and upgrade treatment plants with the help of a. But attorneys suing the chemical companies argue taxpayer money shouldn’t be used to let those corporations evade responsibility.
Manufacturers concede PFAS is now in the blood of nearly every living person but argue they are not harmful. A leading industry trade groupas beneficial, even as some that were used in firefighting foam are no longer being made. The largest set of cases targets pollution caused by firefighting foam. Orange County’s suit is one of around 3,000 consolidated in federal court in South Carolina alleging damage from the foam, which is considered a prime legal target because it’s tied to specific locations, like military installations and airports.
3M and other companies are also arguing in South Carolina that if there are health risks, they should be partly shielded from liability because the government agencies that bought the foam knew about the hazards. A similar argument worked to shield the makers of Agent Orange from lawsuits by Vietnam War veterans.
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