Three chemical companies, including Indianapolis-based Corteva, will pay up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims with the state of New Jersey over contamination linked to PFAS, a group of substances known as “forever chemicals.” Photo from Needpix.

News Release

TRENTON, N.J. — Three chemical companies, including Indianapolis-based Corteva, will pay up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims with the state of New Jersey over contamination linked to PFAS, a group of substances known as “forever chemicals.”

The settlement is the largest of its kind in New Jersey’s history. Under the agreement, Corteva, DuPont and Chemours will collectively pay $875 million over 25 years and establish a remediation fund of up to $1.2 billion. The companies will share the costs, pending court approval.

PFAS, short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been widely used in industrial and consumer products since the mid-20th century due to their resistance to heat, water and oil. These compounds have been found to persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body, raising concerns over potential health risks.

The agreement aims to resolve claims related to legacy contamination at four sites in New Jersey linked to the companies’ past operations. It follows a separate deal earlier this year in which 3M agreed to pay up to $450 million to the state to settle lawsuits related to natural resource damage caused by PFAS.

PFAS were used in a range of products, including non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing and firefighting foam. While many of the most harmful variants, such as PFOA and PFOS, have been phased out of production, they remain present in the environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a drinking water limit of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, reflecting growing concerns about the long-term health effects of exposure.

New Jersey officials say the settlement will help address pollution and restore damaged natural resources.