Trump administration says chemical maker Chemours agrees to pay $450M to settle 'forever chemicals' case

By — Matthew Daly, Associated Press Matthew Daly, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-administration-says-chemical-maker-chemours-agrees-to-pay-450m-to-settle-forever-chemicals-case Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump administration says chemical maker Chemours agrees to pay $450M to settle 'forever chemicals' case Nation Jun 24, 2026 12:47 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday reached a multi-state settlement with chemical giant Chemours Co. over years-long, illegal discharges of synthetic "forever chemicals" used to make products resistant to water, grease and stains. The settlement is the first by the federal government to resolve enforcement claims against a manufacturer of harmful chemicals known as PFAS. WATCH: How an unregulated chemical entered a North Carolina community's drinking water Under the agreement, filed in federal court in West Virginia, Chemours will pay a civil penalty of $22.5 million for alleged violations and spend $90 million over 15 years to mitigate PFAS discharges in three states: West Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey. Chemours, a spin-off of chemical maker DuPont, also agreed to install PFAS pollution controls for and surface water discharges and air emissions at a West Virginia facility at an estimated cost of $60 million, supply clean drinking water to communities near its West Virginia and New Jersey sites at an estimated cost of $280 million; and implement controls to reduce releases of PFAS and other toxic chemicals from its facility in North Carolina, based on a pending independent assessment. Combined, the penalties and relief programs are estimated to cost at least $450 million, the Justice Department said. The settlement allows Chemours to continue manufacturing PFAS for commercial and military applications while preventing future contamination and protecting communities from existing pollution, said Adam Gustafson, principal deputy assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. Justice Department says settlement protects public health "The Trump administration recognizes the important role of Chemours for it commercial and military obligations," Gustafson said in an interview. "The settlement protects public health while preserving that important balance." The settlement against a major PFAS manufacturer "delivers on the Trump administration's promise to make polluters pay and stop PFAS contamination at the source," said Jeffrey Hall, assistant EPA administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. The agreement will greatly reduce PFAS contamination of water, land and air and even begin to mitigate past harm, Hall said. "This settlement brings Chemours into compliance with the law and holds it fully accountable," he said. In a statement Wednesday, Chemours said it has already begun planning and implementing operational improvemen