Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against 3M alleging that the company’s improper handling of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – also known as “forever chemicals” resulted in contamination at and around its facility in Cordova, Illinois.
According to a news release, Raoul’s lawsuit was filed in Rock Island County Circuit Court alleging that 3M’s negligent operations at its facility in Cordova have resulted in significant levels of PFAS contamination at and around the facility, which is located on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The release says Attorney General Raoul’s lawsuit further alleges that despite being aware of the health and environmental hazards connected to PFAS, 3M has downplayed negative impacts.
The Attorney General’s office is partnering on the case with a team of outside counsel who have been designated as special assistant attorneys general.
3M has owned and operated its Cordova facility since approximately 1970. It is one of three facilities where 3M manufactures a number of chemical products including adhesives, resins, fluorochemicals and other specialty chemicals.
Sonya Lunder with the Sierra Club reviewed the facility's toxic release inventory records last year.
“While they are known to make PFAS chemicals, while they have some records showing they're discharging their wastes into the Mississippi River, they hadn't reported to EPA any use of EPA related PFAS chemicals.”
Sampling conducted by 3M, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the presence of contaminated groundwater under and around the facility, as well as the Mississippi River.
The release says testing done at one groundwater monitoring well in 2020 showed PFAS levels several thousand parts per trillion higher than proposed state standards. In addition, 3M discharges more than 8 million gallons of contaminated wastewater directly into the Mississippi River each day, and wastewater sampling has shown levels of toxic PFAS in the wastewater.
PFAS are human-made, synthetic chemicals that do not exist naturally in the environment.
Raoul’s lawsuit seeks to require 3M to address PFAS contamination and protect public health and the environment. The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and associated regulations, and additional civil penalties of $10,000 for each day the violations continue. In addition, the lawsuit seeks damages arising from PFAS contamination and injury of natural resources.
A statement from the company says "3M acted responsibly in connection with its manufacturing operations and products containing PFAS and will vigorously defend its record of environmental stewardship."
