“New Jersey Forces DuPont into Historic $2 Billion Cleanup Deal — Largest Environmental Settlement Ever by a Single State”
In a dramatic legal turn that’s shaking the environmental world, DuPont and its associated companies are now on the hook for a record-breaking $2 billion+ settlement—the largest ever by a single U.S. state—as New Jersey finally holds the chemical giant accountable for decades of toxic pollution hidden beneath neighborhoods and water supplies.
After years of legal battles, this settlement is a result of deep-rooted environmental harm caused by “forever chemicals”—known as PFAS—that have seeped into the ground and water near four major DuPont facilities across the state. These sites include the notorious Pompton Lakes Works in Passaic County, the Repauno site in Gloucester, the Chambers Works plant in Salem, and the Parlin facility in Middlesex County.
The money and stories behind this settlement make it much more explosive. DuPont allegedly knew of subsurface threats in the 1980s but delayed action, fought testing, and sometimes disguised the truth from neighbors. Some families living atop poisonous plumes discovered years later that they were breathing cancer-causing fumes.
Once a powerhouse for explosives manufacturing, Pompton Lakes became the site of one of New Jersey’s most complex pollution cases. Mercury, lead, and volatile pollutants gradually spread through soil and basements, causing inhabitants long-standing health concerns. Mistrust persists because thorough repair, begun decades ago, remains unfinished.
This historic agreement requires DuPont and spin-off businesses Chemours and Corteva to pay $875 million in damages, set aside $1.2 billion for cleanup, and establish a $475 million reserve to continue work if finances fail. The money will go toward filtering drinking water and restoring natural resources—especially for towns that still rely on private wells or outdated systems.
But this isn’t New Jersey’s first PFAS victory. The state has already secured over $3 billion in total settlements from chemical giants, including 3M and Solvay, as it leads the nation in setting strict PFAS water standards and conducting widespread contamination testing.
Environmental advocates are calling this a “landmark win” that sends a bold message to corporate polluters: your past cannot be buried. New Jersey is digging it up—chemicals, cover-ups, and all.
The public’s reaction has been mixed. Some feel justice is finally being served, while others say it’s too late for the many families who suffered in silence. Cleanup will continue under close state oversight, but for many in towns like Pompton Lakes, the scars—both physical and emotional—may never fully heal.
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