Chemours Settles North Carolina PFAS Claims

Chemours, DuPont de Nemours and Corteva have agreed to pay $455 million over 15 years to resolve PFAS-related claims brought by the State of North Carolina and 11 local entities near Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility. Chemours’ share is approximately $180 million on a net present value basis, covered by existing accruals, with about $50 million expected over the next 12 months. The agreement also covers North Carolina claims over PFAS contamination unrelated to Fayetteville Works, including use of aqueous film forming foam. It remains subject to dismissal of the covered litigation.

Settlement Covers State And Local Claims

The settlement resolves litigation involving PFAS and other historical discharges from Fayetteville Works, as well as statewide claims involving other sources. Of the $455 million settlement amount, $18 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to the facility.

The 11 participating local entities are Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Robeson and Sampson counties; the Town of Wrightsville Beach; the City of Lumberton; the Village of Bald Head Island; and the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority. They had been excluded from the U.S. Public Water System Class Settlement approved in 2024.

Payments Set Over Fifteen Years

Payments will begin within 30 days of the agreement’s execution date and continue over 15 years. Under a January 2021 memorandum of understanding, Chemours will cover 50% of settlement payments, while DuPont and Corteva will cover the remaining half.

For purposes of calculating qualified spend under the memorandum, the settlement amount will account for approximately $210 million. The companies also agreed that future contributions to the memorandum’s escrow account are satisfied, including Chemours’ $50 million contribution that had been due in September 2026.

Consent Order Progress Recognized

The agreement recognizes work completed under Chemours’ 2019 Consent Order with the State of North Carolina. Since 2019, Chemours has made substantial investments to reduce PFAS emissions from Fayetteville Works and mitigate off-site impacts in the surrounding communities.

The agreement recognizes that several Consent Order provisions have been completed. The settlement establishes procedures to address certain remaining obligations relating to off-site areas, including implementation of drinking water programs.

Clarity For Fayetteville Works

The settlement provides greater clarity regarding these North Carolina liabilities and supports Chemours’ continued operation of the Fayetteville Works manufacturing facility. Claims released and not released are described in the settlement agreement, with finality dependent on the required court dismissals.