3M to Pay New Jersey Up to $450 Million for Drinking-Water Contamination
3M to Pay New Jersey Up to $450 Million for Drinking-Water Contamination

The state claimed ‘forever chemicals,’ also known as PFAS, contaminated groundwater from an industrial park where they were used for decades.
Read the full article on NY Times World
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is highly accurate, with the core claim of 3M paying New Jersey up to $450 million for PFAS contamination being verified by multiple sources. The reporting appears mostly objective, with a slight positive slant towards New Jersey's efforts to combat PFAS contamination.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** 3M to Pay New Jersey Up to $450 Million for Drinking-Water Contamination.
- Verification Source #1: Supports this claim, stating "historic settlement of up to $450 million with 3M for statewide PFAS contamination."
- Verification Source #2: Supports this claim, stating "3M agreed to pay up to $450m for releasing 'forever' chemicals into our water."
- Verification Source #5: Supports this claim, mentioning "3M to pay New Jersey $450M over PFAS contamination."
- Claim:** The state claimed ‘forever chemicals,’ also known as PFAS, contaminated groundwater from an industrial park where they were used for decades.
- Verification Source #1: Supports this claim, mentioning PFAS contamination and the use of the settlement funds for "New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts."
- Verification Source #2: Supports this claim, mentioning "forever chemicals" released into the water.
- Verification Source #3: Supports this claim, mentioning "Up to $450 Million with 3M for Statewide PFAS Contamination."
- Claim:** PFAS are also known as "forever chemicals."
- Verification Source #2: Supports this claim, stating "3M agreed to pay up to $450m for releasing 'forever' chemicals into our water."
- Verification Source #5: Supports this claim, mentioning "PFAS chemicals — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances."
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Verification Source #1: The New Jersey Attorney General's office confirms the settlement amount and its purpose: "The damages we recover from 3M will help fund New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts, improve drinking water quality in Salem County."
- Verification Source #2: The New Jersey OAG Facebook page confirms the settlement amount and the "forever chemicals" aspect.
- Verification Source #5: The Inquirer article mentions the broader context of PFAS contamination in New Jersey and the state's actions against companies like DuPont, which provides additional context.
- Verification Source #4: Mentions 3M and drinking water contamination but does not directly relate to the $450 million settlement with New Jersey.
- There are no contradictions between the sources. All sources support the core claim of the settlement and the issue of PFAS contamination.